Customs Seizes 13,720 Illegal Cigarettes in Tidore Kepulauan Operation

Customs officers in Ternate, Indonesia, confiscated over 13,700 illegal cigarettes during a market operation in Tidore Kepulauan. The seized items, valued at approximately $18,900, represent a significant effort to curb the circulation of untaxed tobacco products in the Maluku Utara region.

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The circulation of illegal cigarettes not only harms the state in terms of excise revenue but also disrupts a healthy business climate.

The operation, conducted between May 25 and 29, 2026, focused on both wholesale distributors and retail sellers. Officials discovered multiple brands of cigarettes that had not complied with customs and excise laws. The potential loss to state revenue from these illegal sales was estimated at $10,230.

Ary Patria Sanjaya, Head of Compliance and Counseling at Bea Cukai Ternate, emphasized the operation's dual role as both a preventive and repressive measure. "The circulation of illegal cigarettes not only harms the state in terms of excise revenue but also disrupts a healthy business climate," Sanjaya stated. He affirmed the agency's commitment to strengthening oversight and enforcement against illegal cigarette trade in Maluku Utara.

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Through this market operation, we are committed to continuously strengthening oversight and enforcement against the circulation of illegal cigarettes in Maluku Utara.

Sanjaya also urged the public to actively participate in combating illegal cigarettes by reporting any suspected violations to the authorities. He believes that public cooperation is crucial for enhancing the effectiveness of on-the-ground surveillance and enforcement efforts.

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Public participation is one of the important factors in increasing the effectiveness of field supervision.