E-cigarettes worth over RMB 6 million seized on Indonesia's Batam Island?

On August 22, it was reported that recently, customs on Indonesia's Batam Island seized illegal goods worth approximately 137 billion Indonesian Rupiah (about 6.53 million RMB) in the first half of 2023. These goods included tobacco products, illegal cigarettes, electronic cigarettes, and alcoholic beverages (MMEA).

Batam Customs Director Anbang Priyongo stated that this crackdown was the result of tax operations aimed at ensuring compliance among retail sellers of taxable goods in Batam, which is part of a free trade zone and free port. Among the seized illegal goods were 1,120 grams of electronic cigarette devices and 4,984,820 milliliters of electronic cigarette e-liquid. The Batam Customs Director stated, "We will continue to strengthen inter-departmental coordination and cooperation, utilizing the latest technology. We hope such actions can continue in the future to create a better trading environment in Indonesia."