East Lombok task force educates residents to curb illegal cigarette trade

Authorities in East Lombok, Indonesia, are intensifying efforts to combat the illegal cigarette trade through public education campaigns. The East Lombok Illegal Taxable Goods (BKC) Task Force is conducting outreach to strengthen residents' awareness and vigilance against the distribution of untaxed tobacco products.

Salmun Rahman, head of the East Lombok Civil Service Police Unit, highlighted that the campaign is an implementation of Indonesian Law No. 39 of 2007 concerning Excise. He stressed that allowing the free sale of illegal cigarettes primarily harms the state by causing revenue losses, which in turn affects regional and village budgets. "If state revenue is lost, then the region, villages, and sub-districts lose out, because the source of regional funding up to the sub-district level comes from the state," Rahman stated.

Rahman further explained that revenue from tobacco excise taxes (DBHCHT) is allocated not only to farmers but also to health, development, and law enforcement sectors. He urged the public, especially owners of wholesale stores, kiosks, and grocery shops, to refuse offers to stock illegal cigarettes, even if they are cheaper and appear similar to legitimate products. He also encouraged consumers not to purchase them, as they benefit illicit businesses at the expense of the state.

The task force announced plans for joint operations with the Customs and Excise authorities and other law enforcement agencies. Lalu Mawana Firdaus Kukuh, Head of Compliance at Customs and Excise Mataram, provided details on identifying counterfeit excise bands and explained that excise taxes apply to specific goods like tobacco products, ethyl alcohol, and alcoholic beverages. He noted that certain types of unprocessed tobacco are exempt from excise duties under specific conditions.