"The attempt to smuggle 100 tons of rattan was foiled by our routine patrol. Based on our inspection, no legal documents were available for the cargo, and it was not on the list of the ship's cargoes," a spokesman of West Kalimantan Customs and Excise Regional Office Ferdinan Ginting remarked here on Friday.
Based on preliminary investigation, the rattan was intended to be smuggled to Malaysia through the sea route from West Kalimantan.
"The rattan packed in thousands of bundles originated from Sampit, and it would be smuggled to Serike, Malaysia," he stated.
The exports of raw rattan, semi-processed rattan, rattan core, and rattan peel are banned under Trade Minister’s Regulation No. 44 of 2012.
Ginting noted that the case is being investigated under Law No. 17 of 2006 on customs and violators are liable to face a jail term of one to 10 years and be fined Rp50 million to Rp5 billion. Related news: Indonesia needs to boost exports of rattan products
Related news: Trade Minister promotes domestic rattan industry
EDITED BY INE
Translator: Andilala, Sri Haryati
Editor: Suharto
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