2 Riau Customs and Excise Personnel Suspected of Smuggling 27 Cartons of Illegal Cigarettes

RIAU ONLINE, BANDA ACEH-Two individuals from Riau Customs and Excise with the initials RF and AS were arrested by the Aceh Customs and Excise Team. The two of them were arrested for distributing 27 cartons of illegal cigarettes with a value of Rp. 191.7 million in the Aceh Tamiang area.

Head of Customs and Excise Facilities at the Regional Office of the Directorate General of Customs and Excise for Aceh Province, Leni Rahmasari, said recently that the Aceh Customs and Excise team had succeeded in thwarting attempts to distribute illegal cigarettes which could be detrimental to the country.

“Both of them had the initials RF and AS. The total number of illegal cigarettes they brought reached 27 cartons with a value of IDR 191.7 million,” he said.

The arrest began with information from the public reporting that cigarettes had been sent to Aceh by car on Monday 4 September 2023. Based on this information, the Aceh Province Regional Office of the Directorate General of Customs and Excise formed a joint team with the C Langsa Middle Type Customs and Excise Services Supervision Office (KPPBC TMP). .

“Subsequently, the joint team stopped a car in Kuala Simpang, Aceh Tamiang Regency. During an inspection of the car, 27 cartons of cigarettes were found which had no excise stamps attached,” he said.

Leni Rahmasari said that violations of illegal cigarettes are subject to Article 54 and/or Article 56 of Law Number 11 of 1995 concerning excise as amended into Law Number 7 of 2021 concerning harmonization of tax regulations.

“Customs is committed to monitoring the circulation of cigarettes and other illegal goods. We also invite the public to report the circulation of cigarettes and other illegal goods because they have the potential to harm the state,” said Leni Rahmasari.