TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo has put a ban on used clothing imports because it is considered to have disturbed the domestic textile industry. Jokowi added that the import of used clothing has caused state losses amounting to the billions and reduced export rate.

"[Used clothing import] disturbs domestic textile industry, it is very disturbing," Jokowi said on Wednesday, March 15, 2023.

Illegally imported goods entered Indonesian territory through five main ports, one of which is located in Sumatera. The Directorate General of Customs and Excise (DGCE) of the Ministry of Finance records showed that the DGCE has carried out 278 prosecutions against 7,881 used clothing bulk from January 2022 until February 2023.

The smuggling of imported used clothing is done through several entry points on the coast of Sumatera. In addition, the practice of smuggling illegally imported used clothing is also conducted through unofficial ports not registered in the DGCE supervision list.

Several entry points of illegally imported used clothing in Sumatera are as follows:

1. Dumai Port

Based on information from Pelindo.co. the Dumai Port is an essential port in the Riau archipelago, which plays an important role in the Riau Archipelago economy. In addition to acting as an export and import entry point, the Dumai Port also acts as a special port.

Another important service provided by Dumai Port is the loading and unloading of dry bulk and liquid bulk goods. The port even registered as the largest liquid bulk unloading port with approximately 400,000 tons of CPO unloaded every month.

The Dumai Port is one of the entry point of imported used clothing. Antaranews reported that attempts to smuggle imported used clothing through Dumai waters never stopped because of the lack of punishment for smugglers.

Used goods are being distributed in Dumai without restriction from local government and authorities.

Meanwhile, smuggling of used clothing from Malaysia is distributed to other neighboring regions such as Pekanbaru, Bengkalis, Rokan Hilir, and even reaching as far as West Sumatera.

Smuggling of used clothing also conducted through illegal ports scattered around Dumai, such as:

1. The Kemeli River Port in Medang Kamai District. Illegally imported used clothing are usually unloaded at around 9:00 PM local time, until midnight.
2. The Selingsing River Port in Sungai Sembilan District. At this location illegally imported used clothing are usually unloaded at around midnight.
3. The Mesjid River Port in Dumai Timur District. At this location, illegally imported used clothing are unloaded at anytime under the disguise of the unloading of staple goods.

2. Belawan Port

The Belawan seaport is located in Medan city at the northeastern part of Sumatera. Belawan port is the largest port in Sumatera, which serves as one of the main lifeline of logistics network and economy in the western part of Indonesia.

Belawan port's main export commodity are, among others, palm oil and its derivative products. Meanwhile, the port's main import commodity includes wheat, cattle feed, and sugar.

3. Batam

Based on articles published by batamport.bpbatam.go.id, the Batam Center International Ferry Terminal is one of the busiest international gateway in Batam. The terminal serves ships sailing to Singapore and Malaysia. The terminal is accessible through Mega Mall in Batam Center, which mostly used by international tourist entering Batam.

Batam is located along high-traffic international trade line. As many as 90 percent of Batam coastal areas has been used as smuggling routes and serves as entry point for smuggled goods such as drugs, used clothing, and other goods.

KHUMAR MAHENDRA

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