Concrete, Firmer Law Enforcement Against Smuggling Needed, President Jokowi Says

President Jokowi, accompanied by Vice President Jusuf Kalla, leads a Limited Meeting on the Issue of Smuggling on Wednesday (25/1), at the Presidential Office, Jakarta

Prevention, monitoring, and law enforcement measures on the ground to tackle smuggling must be taken in concrete manner as circulation of smuggled products does not only bring financial losses to the country but may also destroy national industries, according to President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo. The statement was made during a Limited Meeting on the Issue of Smuggling on Wednesday (25/1), at the Presidential Office, Jakarta.

The President asserted that the Government has to limit activities of the smugglers by developing effective prevention and monitoring systems.

Moreover, the Government also has to give priority to monitor the condition on the ground, particularly in areas that are most vulnerable to smuggling, the President added.

President Jokowi also renewed his call to all Government officials to be more firm, consistent, resolute, and never stop carrying out law enforcement. “I instruct Indonesian National Police (Polri) and Attorney General Office to support the law enforcement and process to resolve every smuggling cases in Indonesia,” the President said.

The President further said that all apparatus who take part in smuggling, particularly those who back up smuggling, must be sentenced. “Firm action must be taken against them, without exception,” the President said.

Also attending the Limited Meeting were Vice President Jusuf Kalla, Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs Wiranto, Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture Puan Maharani, Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi, Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Susi Pudjiastuti, Ministry of Law and Human Rights Yasonna H. Laoly, Minister of Transportation Budi K. Sumadi, Minister of State Secretary Pratikno, Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung, Presidential Chief of Staff Teten Masduki, Minister of Finance Sri Mulyani Indrawati, Minister of Industry Airlangga Hartarto, Indonesian Defense Forces (TNI) Commander Gen. Gatot Nurmantyo, Indonesian National Police Chief Tito Karnavian, Chief of Maritime Security Board (Bakamla) Rear Adm. Ari Soedewo, and Head of National Intelligence Agency (BIN) Budi Gunawan.  (GUN/SM/ES) (RAS/EP/YM/Naster)