Merauke, Jubi – The Indonesian Navy Regional Command XI (Kodaeral XI) in Merauke, South Papua Province, has seized 94 cartons of suspected illicit cigarettes without excise tax stamps during a joint operation involving naval intelligence and military police personnel at the KNS I residential complex on Irian Street in Seringgu Jaya, Merauke Regency.
The shipment, consisting of 75,520 packs of various cigarette brands, including Martil and GP, is estimated to be worth Rp1.36 billion. Authorities estimate the potential loss to the state from unpaid excise duties at approximately Rp1.35 billion.
Kodaeral XI Commander Rear Admiral Joko Andriyanto said the operation stemmed from intelligence received in early July 2026 regarding the alleged distribution of untaxed cigarettes in Merauke.
A joint team launched an investigation and traced a shipment believed to have been transported from Surabaya aboard the cargo vessel KM Spill Hasia.
After the vessel docked in Merauke, the cargo was unloaded at a freight forwarding company before being dispatched to its intended destination at the KNS I complex.
“As the shipment was being delivered, our team tracked it. When the package was opened together with the recipient, we found cigarettes without excise tax stamps. A subsequent search uncovered a total of 94 cartons,” Joko told a press conference at Kodaeral XI headquarters on Thursday, 30 July 2026.
Joko said the primary concern in the case was that none of the seized cigarettes carried the mandatory excise tax stamp.
“We have questioned those connected to the shipment regarding ownership. However, the main issue in this case is that the cigarettes were distributed without any excise tax stamps,” he said.
He added that determining whether the cigarettes were genuine or counterfeit, as well as conducting further investigations into the case, falls under the authority of the relevant government agencies.
Merauke Customs and Excise chief Isa Ramadhan described the seizure as one of the largest confiscations of untaxed cigarettes ever made in the regency.
According to Isa, Customs routinely conducts surveillance through maritime patrols, border inspections, and monitoring within Merauke town.
Although officers have previously found cigarettes without excise stamps in small retail shops and on fishing vessels, the quantities were relatively minor.
“We have encountered untaxed cigarettes before, but never on this scale. Usually, we find only a single carton,” he said.
Isa noted that the Merauke Customs office, which oversees Merauke, Mappi, Asmat, and Boven Digoel regencies, has only 29 personnel, making close cooperation with other law enforcement agencies essential.
Merauke Police Chief Senior Commissioner Leonardo Yoga said the operation underscored the importance of inter-agency cooperation in tackling crimes that cause significant losses to the state.
“We will continue strengthening coordination and collaboration with all relevant agencies to prevent the widespread distribution of illicit cigarettes and other criminal activities in Merauke,” he said.
- Investigators from the relevant agencies are continuing their inquiries to identify those responsible for the shipment and distribution of the untaxed cigarettes, in accordance with their respective legal mandates. (*)
