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Customs office uncovers textile smuggling
Belawan Customs and Excise Office sea patrol officers foiled an attempt on Tuesday to smuggle thousands of rolls of fabric from Malaysia to North Sumatra
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elawan Customs and Excise Office sea patrol officers foiled an attempt on Tuesday to smuggle thousands of rolls of fabric from Malaysia to North Sumatra.
Belawan Customs and Excise Office supervision and services manager Lupi Hartanto said fabric smuggling was considered novel.
'We usually handle onion, used clothing and liquor smuggling. It is the first time we have handled textile smuggling,' Lupi told reporters on Tuesday.
Lupi said his office seized 1,475 rolls of fabric that had been smuggled into the country on board the KM Abadi Jaya freighter.
After getting a tip-off, Lupi said customs officers foiled the smuggling attempt off Sei Tuan, Percut district, Deli Serdang regency, at 1:30 a.m. local time.
'We impounded the entire textile load. We will auction off the fabric and the proceeds will go to state coffers,' said Lupi, adding that the value of the fabric was estimated to be more than Rp 300 million (US$25,537).
He said customs officers also seized thousands of sacks of red onions and hundreds of bales of used clothing. None of the consignments had valid documents.
'North Sumatra has become a place to send illegal products from Malaysia due to the proximity,' Lupi said, adding that small harbors along the eastern coast of the province were often used to smuggle in goods.
Belawan Customs and Excise Office prevention and enforcement head Rizky said his department would keep investigating the textile smuggling case. He said that based on statements by six detained crew members, a businessman in Medan was behind the smuggling attempt.
Rizky said the perpetrator planned to sell the fabric to various textile shops in Medan.
'We have the name of the perpetrator. We are still investigating the case,' Rizky told The Jakarta Post in Belawan on Tuesday.
'We will collaborate with the police to catch the main actor,' added Rizky.
Separately, Belawan Police deputy chief Comr. Dayan said the police were ready to help the customs office in investigating the case.
'We are ready to help. This won't be the first time we have worked with the customs office in handling smuggling cases,' said Dayan.
