Customs destroys 43.2 million illegal cigarettes seized in Surabaya

Authorities in Surabaya, Indonesia, have destroyed over 43 million illegal cigarettes, a significant haul seized during the first half of 2026. The East Java I Customs Regional Office, in collaboration with Sidoarjo Customs and the Surabaya City Government, carried out the destruction on Wednesday at Surabaya City Hall.

The confiscated cigarettes, deemed state property, are valued at approximately 64.2 billion Indonesian Rupiah (around $4.3 million USD). Their destruction through incineration at a certified waste processing facility prevents them from re-entering the market and causing an estimated 36 billion Rupiah ($2.4 million USD) in state revenue losses.

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As an agency tasked with overseeing excisable goods, including cigarettes, Customs must ensure that seized goods are not misused, by carrying out the destruction of these illegal cigarettes.

Rusman Hadi, Head of the East Java I Customs Regional Office, explained that the seizures resulted from independent operations and joint efforts with local authorities across various surveillance areas. Advanced technology, including cyber-crawling on e-commerce platforms, bolstered these enforcement activities.

Violations uncovered included cigarettes without excise bands, counterfeit or used excise bands, improperly used bands, and non-compliant personalized bands. Hadi emphasized that destroying these confiscated goods is a crucial step in law enforcement to prevent misuse and uphold fair competition for legitimate businesses. The campaign 'Gempur Rokok Ilegal' encourages public participation in reporting illegal cigarette distribution.

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The eradication of illegal cigarettes is an effort to protect state revenue while creating a healthy and fair business climate for business actors who have fulfilled the provisions.