The 7 Billion Monthly Ration: How "Wet Sectors" in Indonesian Customs Sustain the Flow of Illegal Imports
By: Tri Lukman Hakim, S.H. | Founder of KunciPro & Legal Analyst
KunciPro.com — The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has just exposed a massive scandal within the Directorate General of Customs and Excise (DJBC), involving alleged bribery amounting to IDR 7 billion per month from PT Blueray Cargo to smuggle various counterfeit (KW) imported goods into the Indonesian market.
According to official reports from CNN Indonesia, this "grease money" was systematically used to secure a seamless, obstacle-free slot for these illicit goods to enter the country.
The Sting Operation (Operasi Tangkap Tangan / OTT) conducted on February 4, 2026, has dragged six individuals as suspects, including the former Director of Enforcement and Investigation of DJBC, initialized as RZL.
Corruption cases in "wet fields" (lucrative sectors) like Customs are not new; many similar cases have occurred in a sequence. The method remains largely the same: paying a sum of money so illegal goods can circulate quietly.
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This phenomenon is not merely a criminal case, but tangible proof of "Systemic Fraud" that keeps recurring with different actors.
1. Modus Operandi:
PT Blueray Cargo allegedly deposited these fantastic funds routinely so that counterfeit goods, ranging from shoes to other products, could flood the local market. The "subscription fee" is not cheap—7 billion rupiah every month. This is not a small amount; it is enough to sustain seven generations on a minimum wage scale.
In economic theory, burning small money for multiplied profits is every businessman's goal. If 7 billion is spent on subscription fees, imagine the massive turnover generated by PT Blueray Cargo.
2. Supervisory Failure:
The involvement of officials at the Director and Head of Intelligence Sub-directorate levels demonstrates that the internal defense system of Customs is extremely fragile against financial intervention.
We need to be realistic; the government attempts to suppress corruption by raising salaries and allowances. However, due to human nature's inherent greed, it will never be enough until "soil enters the throat" (a metaphor for death).
3. Gigantic Evidence:
In this case, KPK seized evidence worth IDR 40.5 billion. In the science we study, seized evidence is merely a fraction of the actual reality.
They are not fools, especially at the level of a Customs Director. If not through money laundering, the alternative route is unregistered marriage (nikah siri) so the unregistered spouse can hold assets without clear suspicion, similar to the case of the East Java DPRD Speaker.
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Why is This Called "Old Ways, New Players"?
Although suspects like RZL, SIS, and ORL are faces recently holding strategic positions, the bribery pattern to pass imported goods is a chronic disease.
PT Blueray Cargo, as a player in the logistics industry, merely exploited "tariff loopholes" and the "sectoral egos" of officials thirsty for gratification.
KunciPro Research Institute observes that as long as the Digital Audit of the flow of goods is not transparent and still relies on human "discretion" in the field, our economic sovereignty will always be pawned for counterfeit goods.
International Dimension: Are Foreign Companies Immune?
This case involves PT Blueray Cargo operating as an international logistics bridge. The critical question is: If these counterfeit goods come from foreign manufacturers abroad, can they be prosecuted, or are they just "left alone" due to jurisdiction?
Based on KunciPro's analysis, three instruments can be used to pursue them:
- Territoriality Principle: If the damage occurs within Indonesian territory, our law has the right to pursue the intellectual actors.
- Corporate Liability: Foreign companies can be ensnared by their home country's laws (such as the FCPA in the USA) if they bribe other countries' officials through the global financial system.
- Extradition and Red Notice: The KPK can issue a Red Notice via Interpol to limit the international movement of the foreign company owners.
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Conclusion
It is not just about patching up national laws that are uneven; we must also synergize between countries to suppress illegal "subscription fee" cases. This damages Indonesia's image in front of official brands that pay expensive taxes. If official brands no longer trust us, the dream of 7% economic growth is merely a pipe dream.
In practice, the state is often only capable of detaining its own citizens without being able to do much if the crime crosses borders. The HQ is abroad; huge resources are needed just to bring a case to court.
The big question remains: Is the KPK capable if it involves arresting foreign businessmen in America or Europe?
Source: This analysis is an English translation of an original op-ed by Tri Lukman Hakim S.H, published on the main journal. [Read Original Article in Indonesian]