JAMBI: Personnel of the Jambi Customs and Excise Office have seized more than 4.8 million illegal cigarettes of various brands during a security operation codenamed Operation Patuh Ampadan I, which ran from May 15 to June 8. The Office’s head Priyono Triatmojo said the illegal cigarettes were confiscated during raids on four different locations across Rimbo Bujang, Tebo regency. “The total value of the seized goods is estimated to amount to Rp 1.2 billion [US$90,252.72],” said Priyono on Friday. He said the Office was investigating further to discover who had possessed the illegal cigarettes as officers were unable to make arrests during the raids. “We found the cigarettes in warehouses. During the raids, only the owners of the warehouses were present. The lessees weren’t there,” said Priyono.
Potential State loss caused by the crimes amounted to around Rp 1.7 billion, he added. Between January and the first of June, the Jambi Customs and Excise Office conducted 29 raids, confiscating Rp 1.9 billion worth of illegal goods amounting to potential state losses of Rp 2.4 billion. The successful operation could not be separated from the support of related authorities such as the National Police, the Indonesian Military, prosecutors and local administrations, said Priyono.
