Uncovered: Illegal Importation of Thousands of Mobile Phones in Jakarta
The Indonesian National Police’s Criminal Investigation Agency (Bareskrim Polri) has uncovered an illegal importation operation in the North Jakarta and West Jakarta areas. From five locations, officers seized more than 4,000 illegal mobile phones.
The crackdown, carried out by the Directorate of Special Economic Crimes (Dittipideksus) of Bareskrim Polri, follows directives from President Prabowo Subianto, who highlighted ongoing smuggling of imported goods across Indonesia.
In his instructions, Prabowo directed the TNI Commander General Agus Subiyanto, National Police Chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo, and Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa to take action.
“Our work is still heavy, the journey is still long, leaks are still occurring, smuggling is still happening. TNI Commander-Police Chief-Finance Minister, you have agencies tasked with stopping smuggling; use all the authority you have to enforce that,” Prabowo stated in his speech at the Attorney General’s Office on Friday (10/4/2026).
He also called on other institutions at all levels to collaborate, particularly in upholding the law.
“I strongly agree that the law is an instrument to safeguard the nation’s and state’s wealth; without the nation’s and state’s wealth, our people cannot live prosperously. We have no choice,” he added.
On the same occasion, Prabowo expressed happiness that his government had saved a total of Rp 31.3 trillion in state funds. Prabowo said this money was recovered during his leadership, which has been in place for just 1.5 years.
“We are here today at the handover event for financial recovery results, state assets, and administrative fine collections for 2026 amounting to Rp 11,420,104,815,858. Brothers and sisters, this is an honour and joy for me that this has happened multiple times in the government I lead, which is only 1.5 years old,” Prabowo said.
Five Warehouses in Jakarta Raided
Following Prabowo’s directives, the Dittipideksus team of Bareskrim Polri conducted an investigation. On Tuesday (14/4/2026), the team raided five warehouses suspected of storing smuggled goods in Indonesia.
The operation was led directly by the Director of Tipideksus Bareskrim Polri, Brigadier General Ade Safri Simanjuntak, and the Deputy Director of Tipideksus Bareskrim Polri, Commissioner Arif Budiman. The first warehouse raided was located on Jalan Kapuk Kayu Besar, Kamal Muara Ward, Penjaringan District, North Jakarta.
From the uncovering, the Dittipideksus team proceeded to raid the second warehouse in a shophouse on Jalan Pantai Indah Barat, Kamal Muara Ward, Penjaringan. Subsequently, the Bareskrim task force raided an office on Jalan Pluit Karang Cantik, Pluit Ward, Penjaringan District, North Jakarta.
Next, police also raided a shophouse on Jalan Ruko Mutiara Palem Raya, Cengkareng. Finally, the search was conducted at a shophouse on Jalan Boulevard Raya, Cengkareng, West Jakarta.
Brigadier General Ade Safri stated that the seized mobile phones were illegal imports, also known as black market (BM) phones. In addition, police confiscated accessories, spare parts, and packaging equipment.
Thousands of Illegal Mobile Phones Seized
From the searches at the five locations, the Bareskrim task force seized 4,599 units of illegal mobile phones of various brands. The estimated state losses from this illegal importation are not yet known.
Here are the results of the searches at the five locations:
- Warehouse on Jalan Kapuk Kayu Besar, Kamal Muara Ward, Penjaringan District, North Jakarta:
HP spare parts including cases, LCDs, keyboards, HP engines, HP bodies, batteries, and boxes totalling 140 cartons of various brands and types, such as Oppo, Vivo, Nokia, Samsung, and Redmi.
iPhone HP and spare parts totalling 535 cartons found in 3 vehicles and the warehouse.
- Shophouse on Jalan Ruko Mutiara Palem Raya, Cengkareng:
Various types of iPhones totalling 1,609 units.
Damaged iPhones 119 units (various types).
iPhone boxes totalling 1,696 boxes of various types.
Various types of iPhones already packed totalling 94.
580 roll charger cables.
3 charger units and 94 charger cables.
5 packing machines.
125 HP box stickers.
- Shophouse on Jalan Boulevard Raya, Cengkareng, West Jakarta:
iPhone HP packaging of various types totalling 980 units.
HP packaging of various brands Vivo, Oppo, Samsung, and Redmi totalling 650 units.
- Shophouse on Jalan Pantai Indah Barat, Kamal Muara Ward, Penjaringan:
- Various types of iPhones totalling 131 units.
- Warehouse in Citra Garden Kalideres, West Jakarta:
Damaged HP 289 units of various brands.
iPhone 13 totalling 192 units.