Kotabaru Customs Confiscated 258,000 Illegal Cigarettes

Kotabaru, South Kalimantan 16/1 (AntaranewsKalsel) - The Kotabaru Control and Service Office of Customs and Excise has confiscated 258,000 illegal cigarettes during 2016.

"The amount obtained in 20 findings of violations in the field of customs and excise throughout 2016," said Head of Control and Service Office of Customs and Excise TMP C Kotabaru Bagus Sulistijono, through the Head of Internal Compliance and Guidance Section here, Monday.

A small portion of cigarettes without excise was obtained from shops in the Kemakmuran Market. The rest was seized from shops in the sub-district where oil palm plantations are many, such as Sungai Durian.

"The findings in the Pulau Laut was only four or five, the rest were in the sub-districts in the mainland of Kalimantan," said Bagus.

From the results of mapping, the entrance of illegal cigarettes into Kotabaru was Satui, Tanah Bumbu, a border overland from Banjarmasin as well as several ports in Batulicin.

While marketing target were workers in oil palm plantations, which amounted to thousands of people.

"Kotabaru indeed is not primary distribution channel for ships directly from Java. These illegal goods had already been warded at Balikpapan and Banjarmasin, but sometimes it perks," he said.

Compared to the previous year, the findings of illegal cigarettes in 2016 increased four-fold. Meanwhile, the state incurred losses reached Rp77 million.