Batam Customs Thwart Smuggling of Illegal Alcoholic Beverages from Singapore

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Batam Customs Office secured a container carrying illegal alcoholic beverages worth Rp7 billion in Batu Ampar Port, Batam City on Thursday, Feb. 1.

The head of Batam Customs' information service department Rizki Badillah confirmed the operation. He explained that the alcoholic beverages were delivered from Singapore. "The evidence is now secured in Tanjunguncang," Rizki said today.

Initial calculation found various brands of illegal beverages containing ethyl alcohol, such as Category C amounting to 6,504 bottles (3,358,800 ml), category A amounting to 24,360 bottles (6,699,000 ml) with a total of 30,864 bottles of beverages (10,057.8 liters).

"Estimated values reached Rp6,968,160,000 with estimated state loss of Rp6,231,637,000," he said.

Batam is vulnerable to smuggling, including alcoholic beverages, electronic equipment, and counterfeit money. Riau Islands Police also discovered counterfeit Singaporean dollars distribution networks a few days ago worth Rp45 billion. Police have not been able to discover the printing location of the counterfeit.

YOGI EKA SAHPUTRA

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