Government Seizes 1 Billion Illegal Cigarette Sticks by November 2025

Deputy Minister of Finance Suahasil Nazara stated that from the beginning of the year until November 2025, the Directorate General of Customs and Excise of the Ministry of Finance has carried out 17,641 enforcement actions against illegal cigarettes circulating in Indonesia.

These actions resulted in the seizure of over 1 billion illegal cigarette sticks, a 34.9% increase year-on-year (yoy).

"The sheer volume of illegal cigarettes circulating out there, both domestic and imported, is immense. We must certainly reduce this quickly," said Suahasil during the APBN KiTa press conference on Thursday (December 19, 2025).

By type, the majority, or 74.2% of the seized illegal cigarettes, fell into the machine-rolled clove cigarette (SKM) category.

Another 20.5% were machine-rolled white cigarettes (SPM), and 5.3% were other types of illegal cigarettes.

Although the number of illegal cigarettes seized has increased, Suahasil stated that this figure is still lower than the actual amount circulating among the public.

"If we look at the actual number out there, it's far greater than 1 billion sticks. There are still many illegal cigarettes circulating and affecting people's lives," said Suahasil.