The Man Behind Illegal Cigarettes
CIGARETTES without excise are still widely circulated and even traded freely. In various regions in Aceh, traders are free to sell illegal cigarettes and people are free to buy them. There is no fear at all, as if there is no violation of the law there.
If indeed there are raids carried out by Customs and the police, why is the circulation of cigarettes without excise so free? Buyers buy easily and sellers provide them boldly? Don't law enforcement officers feel slapped by this phenomenon?
In several incidents, Customs in various cities have conducted raids on stalls suspected of selling cigarettes without excise. In these raids, Customs officers reportedly checked the bookkeeping and cellphones of the stall owners. The goal may be to ensure whether there are transactions of cigarettes without excise or not.
However, here again the question is, why did the case not go to court? Or if there is another legal process that is justified, what has Customs completed to reduce the circulation of cigarettes without excise?
The public has the right to know. So far, there is a strong suspicion that there are individuals playing behind the circulation of cigarettes without excise. Otherwise, it would be impossible for illegal cigarettes to be traded freely.
The question arises, who are these individuals and from which institutions?
Not all of them are big and influential people in their institutions. However, they are free to carry out practices that are detrimental to the country because many high-ranking officials in a number of institutions are involved. If not, of course the circulation of illegal cigarettes would be easy to eradicate.
In fact, Customs officials have consistently stated that illegal cigarettes are detrimental to the country and the excise revenue side. In addition, this practice is dangerous to public health because illegal cigarettes do not meet production standards because the orientation of producers is only to seek profit.
Various methods used to eradicate the circulation of illegal cigarettes such as the formation of task forces, law enforcement operations, and socialization to the community, have not shown optimal results so far.
Why is that? Again, this proves that there are parties involved because this business provides many benefits even though the country is harmed.
Actually, it is not only the country that is harmed. Official cigarette producers are also screaming because cigarette excise continues to rise and smokers prefer cigarettes without excise because the price is affordable. The wealth of famous cigarette owners continues to decline.
Likewise, the value of their shares on the stock exchange has fallen drastically compared to the period before illegal cigarettes were widely circulated. The impact is a reduction in workforce and an increase in unemployment. The multiple impacts caused by the circulation of illegal cigarettes are so extensive, not to mention the health losses experienced by the community.
The community is still waiting for real and firm action from the security forces. But who knows until when.[]
