Customs Says the Disclosure of Thousands of Ecstasy from Belgium and the Netherlands Has No Direct State Loss – 2024-05-12 11:07:45

Press conference and presentation of evidence in the case of smuggling of thousands of ecstasy pills from Belgium and the Netherlands (Medcom/Siti Yona Hukmana)

HEAD of the Jakarta Regional Office of the Directorate General of Customs and Excise (DJBC) Rusman Hadi said there was no direct state loss in the disclosure of the case of smuggling thousands of ecstasy pills from Belgium and the Netherlands. Instead, his party prevents narcotics abuse before it occurs, which causes the state to spend a budget to rehabilitate users.

“Then, we also prevent other losses, such as losses that become increasingly ineffective, people become less productive due to the use of narcotics. So, we prevent state spending and we also prevent possible negative external effects,” said Rusman in a press conference. at the Pasar Baru Customs Supervision and Services Office, Central Jakarta, Wednesday, May 8 2024.

Previously, Customs and Excise, Bareskrim Polri and PT Pos Indonesia foiled the smuggling of thousands of ecstasy pills from Belgium and the Netherlands. It is said that preventing the entry of these illicit goods into Indonesia also prevents state financial losses.

In fact, Rusman said that from January to May 5 2024, his party managed to save state expenditure on preventing the smuggling of 1 ton of narcotics. According to him, 1 ton of illicit goods might save around 2 million and a half Indonesian lives.

“And we also managed to save IDR 3.9 trillion in just 5 months,” he said.

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When compared with 2023, he said, Customs and Excise succeeded in preventing around 6 tons of narcotics. This means that it succeeded in saving state expenditure of around IDR 17 trillion and saving around 14 million Indonesians.

Customs and Excise, the Directorate of Narcotics Crime, Bareskrim Polri, and PT Pos Indonesia uncovered a shipment of 20 thousand ecstasy pills under the guise of Honda spare parts and gift packages from Belgium and the Netherlands. A total of six suspects were arrested. However, one person who was the mastermind behind sending these illicit goods to Iran is still being hunted.

The suspects have been transferred to the Police Criminal Investigation Unit. They were charged with Article 114 paragraph 2 in conjunction with Article 132 paragraph 1 of Law Number 35 of 2009 concerning Narcotics. With a maximum threat of the death penalty or life imprisonment. (Z-7)