Batam Customs and Excise Directorate General head Zaky Firmansyah (third right) and other leaders display gold jewelry and other confiscated goods on Wednesday during a press conference in Batam, Riau Islands. The other confiscated goods included 1,018 grams of methamphetamine and 797 used iPhones. - JP
JAKARTA: The Batam Office of the Customs and Excise Directorate General foiled an attempt to smuggle gold using body straps at the International Ferry Terminal in Batam Center in Batam, Riau Islands, on Sept 22.
Office head Zaky Firmansyah said that customs officers suspect a passenger arriving onboard the MV Dolpin 5 from Stulang Laut Ferry Terminal in Johor Baru, Malaysia.
The passenger, identified as EA, a resident of Labuhan Batu in North Sumatra, seemed uncomfortable in his stomach and pants’ pockets.
“From an inspection of the passenger, we found three packets which were tied using a corset and two packets in his pants’ pockets,” Zaky told a press conference at his office on Wednesday (Oct 1).
Customs officers found and confiscated 145 items of gold jewellery with a total weight of 2,575 grams.
The value of the items is Rp 4.8 billion (US$289,453) with a potential state loss of Rp 1.7 billion. EA said he was only a courier on order from someone identified as M, with a fee of Rp 3 million. He was charged with violating Article 103 letter E of Law No. 17/2006 on Customs. Zaky also revealed other smuggling cases which were foiled in the last week of September.
On Sept 27, customs officers inspected MR from Aceh at Hang Nadim International Airport in Batam who was flying to Lombok via Yogyakarta.
Officers found 1,018 grams of methamphetamine, or sabu, on the suspect, who claims to be a courier for someone identified as B alias M. After further investigation, Batam Customs officers and the Riau Islands office of the National Narcotics Agency (BNN) managed to arrest B alias M on Pulau Kasu, Batam.
“The suspect is charged with Law No. 35/2009 on Narcotics with a maximum punishment of the death penalty or a life sentence,” Zaky said, as quoted by the Batam Customs’ office website.
“We managed to save some 5,000 people from the danger of drugs and save the cost of health rehabilitation of some Rp 8.1 billion.”
Another smuggling attempt was intercepted on Sept 27 at the Telaga Punggur Ferry Port when Customs officers inspected a car which was crossing to Tanjung Uban on nearby Bintan Island on board the KMP Barau.
An inspection of suspect R found a total of 797 used iPhone 11s, 12s and 13s. Suspect R said he was only a courier delivering the goods to West Kalimantan on an order for someone identified as AR with a fee of Rp 24 million.
The used iPhones are worth Rp 3.2 billion and present a potential state loss of Rp 1 billion. Suspect R has been charged with Article 102 letter F of Law No. 17/2006 on Customs.
“We managed to reach this performance thanks to the cooperation and collaboration of all stakeholders and the public, as well as the commitment from the military, police, prosecutors and other related ministries and agencies,” Zaky said. - The Jakarta Post/ANN
