Indonesia, Malaysia Expand Joint Task Force Against Illegal Goods

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Indonesia and Malaysia continue strengthening cooperation to secure their shared border and prevent the circulation of illegal goods.

In 2026, the Joint Task Force (JTF) will expand its scope beyond narcotics to include all illegal goods that may cross the border.

“Consequently, the official name of the JTF will change from the Joint Task Force on Narcotics (JTFN) to the Joint Task Force on Illegal Goods,” said Head of the Subdirectorate of Public Relations and Outreach at the Directorate General of Customs and Excise, Budi Prasetiyo, in a written statement on Wednesday, September 2, 2026.

He said risks continue to evolve, as do the methods used by perpetrators. For this reason, surveillance must not be limited to narcotics but must also cover other commodities vulnerable to smuggling.

Budi listed commodities at risk of smuggling, including excise-taxed goods such as cigarettes and alcoholic beverages, petroleum products, and motor vehicles. Other vulnerable items include used clothing (ballpress), frozen meat, rattan, and gold bars.

“This expansion of surveillance targets shows that law enforcement cooperation at the border continues to adapt to evolving risks. Information sharing and coordination with partners in neighboring countries are essential to ensure earlier and more targeted surveillance,” Budi said.

This year, the joint JTF operation between Indonesian Customs and the Royal Malaysian Customs Department (RMCD) took place from July 13 to August 14. The operation targeted high-risk areas within the jurisdictions of the West Kalimantan and East Kalimantan Regional Customs Offices.

“We determined the operation locations based on intelligence-driven risk management analysis, primarily along the Indonesia–Malaysia land and maritime borders,” Budi said.

A total of 30 smuggling cases were addressed, consisting of three narcotics cases, 25 cases involving illegal cigarettes and alcoholic beverages, one case involving used clothing, and one case involving rattan.

In the narcotics cases, officers seized 61.04 grams of methamphetamine (shabu), 61.6 grams of marijuana, and four MDMA (ecstasy) tablets. In the crackdown on illegally excise-taxed goods, officers confiscated 3,004,536 cigarettes and 1,044.4 liters of illegal alcoholic beverages.

Enforcement actions targeting other commodities resulted in the seizure of four bales of illegally imported ball-pressed clothing. Additionally, 99,500 kilograms of rattan--classified as a prohibited export item--were seized.

Budi emphasized that every successful smuggling prevention operation reduces the circulation of illegal goods and protects the public from hazardous items. It also ensures that businesses fulfill their obligations and can compete in a healthy business environment.

“The JTF demonstrates that protecting the public also requires cooperation that transcends national borders,” he said.

The joint operation also safeguards national economic interests and supply chain security in the ASEAN region. Oversight continues to strengthen to close smuggling loopholes and ensure borders remain secure against the circulation of illegal goods. (Gusti Panji)