TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Directorate of Fisheries Resource Supervision at Indonesia’s Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) has intercepted an attempted smuggling of 99.972 tons of frozen Pacific mackerel through Tanjung Priok Port in North Jakarta.
Halid K. Jusuf, Director of Fisheries Resource Supervision at KKP, said the action was taken after receiving public reports about the alleged import of fisheries commodities without proper approval.
According to Halid, dozens of tons of mackerel arrived in four containers at Tanjung Priok Port on Monday, January 5, 2026.
“The shipment was allegedly ordered at the end of 2025,” Halid said during a press conference in Jakarta on Tuesday, January 13, 2026.
The importer was identified as PT CBJ, a company engaged in wholesale fisheries trade based at the Penjaringan fishery port in North Jakarta.
After confiscating the four containers, the Directorate General of Fisheries Resource Supervision summoned and examined the company’s director and commissioner, issuing an inspection report.
Halid explained that PT CBJ had official import approval for 100 tons in January 2025, followed by an additional 50-ton quota granted in June 2025 by the Ministry of Trade, totaling 150 tons for the year.
The company had already imported 100 tons in February and 50 tons in July, fully utilizing the quota.
However, PT CBJ reportedly misinterpreted the additional quota as an increase to 250 tons and placed an order for 100 tons in December 2025 without the required import approval from the Ministry of Trade and import commodity recommendations from KKP.
Halid also said the government’s action potentially saved Rp4.48 trillion, including VAT losses and the impact of smuggling on fish market prices.
Regarding sanctions, Halid clarified that administrative measures would be applied instead of criminal penalties. PT CBJ faces a Rp1 billion fine, while the Indonesian Quarantine Agency has been recommended to destroy or return the smuggled cargo to its origin.
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