Jakarta, Indonesia Sentinel — Indonesia’s Trade Minister (Kemendag) Budi Santoso led the public exposure of 90,000 rolls of imported illegal textile, valued at approximately Rp90 billion ($5.7 million) on Friday, November 8. The seized goods, consisting of fabric rolls, were showcased at a warehouse in Kamal Muara, Penjaringan, North Jakarta.
The discovery was part of an ongoing investigation by the Task Force on Monitoring Specific Imported Goods. The seized textiles failed to comply with several import regulations, lacking essential documentation such as Import Approval (PI) and Surveyor Reports (LS). Additionally, the goods violated safety, health, and environmental (K3L) standards required for imported products.
“This latest seizure includes 60,000 rolls of fabric found in the Kamal Muara warehouse, valued at Rp60 billion ($3.8 million), and another 30,000 rolls worth Rp30 billion ($1.9 million) at a separate location in Roa Malaka, West Jakarta,” Minister Santoso revealed during the press briefing.
Impact on Local Textile Industry
Santoso emphasized that the influx of illegal fabric imports is severely impacting the domestic textile industry, leading to factory closures and stunted growth. The seized fabric rolls were traced back to imports from China, a common source of unregulated goods.
“Following directives from President Prabowo Subianto, we are intensifying efforts to curb the smuggling of illegal imports. I extend my gratitude to the Task Force for their diligent work. We hope that with continued enforcement, we can protect our local industries and consumers from further harm,” Santoso stated.
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Santoso explained that the final decision for the confiscated goods rests with the Import Task Force. The options include destroying the illegal textile as per regulatory guidelines or allowing the importers to submit the necessary documentation to legitimize their shipments.
“The Task Force will decide the next course of action. For now, it’s clear that these textiles do not meet administrative requirements. We will continue our review, but as of now, the importers have not provided any proof of legality,” he explained.
“Given the lack of complete documentation, it is evident that these are illegal goods. We will discuss further with the Task Force, with destruction being a likely outcome,” he concluded.
This crackdown is part of Indonesia’s broader strategy to strengthen import regulations and support local industries by reducing the inflow of illegal and unauthorized goods, particularly in the textile industry.
(Raidi/Agung)
