“Let Customs and Excise [officials] assess whether the case is in accordance with the report. If it is true, then we must fire them," Erick said in Jakarta on Wednesday.

"However, it would be better if they resigned before they got caught."

The businessman-turned-bureaucrat said he was waiting for the results of an investigation by the Finance Ministry’s Customs and Excise Directorate General to assess whether a reshuffle of the Garuda board of directors was needed.

Read also: Precious cargo: Harley parts, Brompton bike smuggled on Garuda Indonesia flight from France

"We are currently waiting as [Finance Minister] Sri Mulyani has instructed the Customs and Excise director general to look into the matter transparently," Erick told reporters.

On Tuesday, customs officials reported the discovery of high-end contraband, consisting of several Harley Davidson spare parts and a Brompton folding bicycle, on Garuda Indonesia’s new Airbus A330-900 plane when it arrived after its maiden flight from France last month.

The discovery raised eyebrows among officials as the aircraft was carrying only Garuda Indonesia executives and employees, according to the flight manifest.

Garuda Indonesia spokesperson M. Ikhsan Rosan confirmed the existence of the illegal cargo on Tuesday, saying the goods belonged to several airline employees on the flight and had been seized by customs and excise officials. (awa)