Police Seize Evidence of Used Mobile Phone Imports in Raid on Sidoarjo Customs Office
Police investigators from the Corruption Eradication Corps (Kortastipidkor) raided the Customs and Excise Supervision and Service Office (KPPBC) Type Madya Pabean Juanda in Sidoarjo, East Java, on Wednesday (24/6) as part of a probe into alleged corruption involving the import of used mobile phones. In addition to the customs office, police searched several other locations in Sidoarjo and Surabaya.
The investigation relates to the suspected illegal importation of used mobile phones. Brigadier General Mulya Hakim Solihin, a senior investigator at Kortastipidkor, explained that the case began with the discovery of practices involving the import of used mobile phones from abroad using invalid or illegal import documents.
“This case originated from the practice of importing used mobile phones from abroad by providing information that did not match the import documents,” Mulya told reporters after the search at the Sidoarjo Customs office on Wednesday evening.
Mulya stated that beyond document falsification, investigators also found indications of money flows to state officials in connection with the used mobile phone import practices between 2024 and 2026. “Additionally, investigators have uncovered suspected payments to certain officials or state administrators. This is believed to have occurred from 2024 to 2026,” the one-star general said.
Four locations were targeted in the searches: the KPPBC Type Madya Pabean Juanda office, the Juanda Cargo Warehouse of PT Jasa Angkasa Semesta (JAS), and the residences of two individuals with the initials MT and AY in Surabaya. Mulya explained that MT is a private importer, while AY is a customs official. Both are suspected of involvement in the import process, though their current status is that of witnesses.
From MT’s residence, police seized five iPhone units, one DVR CCTV storage device, bank statements in MT’s name, deposit slip distribution records, cash amounting to approximately Rp165 million, and 14,200 Singapore dollars. At the home of AY, the customs officer, investigators seized approximately 22 grams of gold jewellery, a land and building certificate along with its deed of sale and purchase, eight Right to Build certificates (SHGB), and one vehicle ownership registration book (BPKB).
At the KPPBC office, police seized three containers of documents and one file mirroring the CEISA application. An additional container of documents was secured at the Juanda Cargo Warehouse of PT JAS.
Mulya described the alleged modus operandi: the perpetrators imported used mobile phones through Juanda Customs using non-compliant documents. He stated that the illegal goods were deliberately not subjected to physical inspection due to the involvement of officers. “The importer brought in goods with documents that did not match. Additionally, there was involvement of certain individuals, so that the mechanism requiring physical inspection was not carried out. The goods simply passed through,” he explained.
Based on the preliminary investigation, most of the imported goods originated from China, though investigators are still exploring the possibility of other source countries. To date, investigators have examined 30 customs officers and 20 private individuals as witnesses, but no suspects have been named yet. Mulya added that the number of potential suspects could be more than one, while the calculation of state losses is still ongoing with the assistance of experts. “Kortastipidkor is committed to resolving this case transparently and without favouritism,” he said.