In a significant crackdown, Batam police thwart a massive smuggling ring involving luxury vehicle parts via Roro ASDP Telaga Punggur.
The Indonesian police recently disrupted a large-scale smuggling operation involving luxury vehicle parts and motorbikes in Batam, Riau Islands. The smuggled items, including Harley Davidson parts, were transported via the Roro Ferry from Batam to Sungai Selari, Bukit Batu, Bengkalis.
The police confiscated high-value items including Ford car engines, Harley Davidson motor engines, Triumph motorcycles, and various other luxury goods.
The seized goods also included used clothing, new t-shirts, various branded bags, untaxed cigarettes, alcoholic beverages, printers, and several vehicles used for transportation.
The smuggling activities are estimated to have caused a tax loss of around Rp 5 billion for the Indonesian government.
The incident has intensified suspicions that Roro ferries have long been used for smuggling operations out of Batam.
Read More: Indonesian Police Dismantle Banana Chip Drug Smuggling Ring
Four suspects have been detained under various charges, with potential penalties of up to 5 years in prison. The Batam Customs Office and ASDP Telaga Punggur are yet to release official statements regarding the incident.
This incident highlights the need for stricter maritime surveillance in the Batam region. For Singaporeans and international visitors, it underscores the ongoing challenges in curbing cross-border smuggling in Southeast Asia.
A major smuggling operation using Roro ferries in Batam, Indonesia, was recently uncovered by the police. High-value goods including parts for luxury vehicles and motorcycles were seized, with an estimated tax loss of Rp 5 billion. The incident has raised concerns over the use of maritime routes for smuggling activities and highlights the need for enhanced security measures in the region.
Source: Batam News, Jawa Pos (2024)
