A businessman in Batam, Riau Islands (Kepri), HP was shot in Indragiri Hilir waters while bringing in illegal cigarettes with a potential state loss of IDR 7.5 billion.
The Head of Customs and Excise (BC) Tembilahan, Ari Wibawa Yusuf, during the press conference, explained that the action to stop the smuggling of illegal goods in the form of cigarettes occurred in Bela River Waters, Kuindra District, Inhil.
Ari explained that the Customs and Excise Marine Patrol Task Force Team for the Special Region of the Riau Islands and Tembilahan Customs pursued an illegal goods smuggling boat on Friday, January 15, 2021, trying to stop 4 High Speed Craft (HSC) boats with 6 x engines. 250 unnamed PKs and 1 ship loaded with crowds known to be carrying smuggled cigarettes from the Riau Islands.
Regarding the shooting, Ari said that at that time the Customs and Excise members were in a tight position and the perpetrators had attacked by swinging their sharp weapons at the officers.
“In a state of urgency, the officers defend themselves and are forced to take firm, measured actions against the perpetrators who attack the Customs and Excise officers,” he explained.
Ari has not confirmed which Customs Member carried out the shooting.
“We are still investigating the shooting SOP, because the officers are combined, we must first count the remaining ammunition and so on,” said Ari.
