Purbaya to destroy illegal bales of secondhand clothing

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesia's Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa decided to destroy imported secondhand clothes as follow-up action against illegal imports, following consultations with the stakeholders.

In a press conference in the buffer area of the Container Deport Center (CDC) Banda, Tanjung Priok, North Jakarta, on Tuesday, Purbaya stated he had engaged the industry stakeholders in deciding the next steps regarding illegal goods entering Indonesia.

"We had a discussion with the industry and they said the could use it. When we offered, they said the could not afford it. So, I think we should just destroy it," he noted.

Funding would be provided to destroy secondhand clothing, he added, including illegal goods stored at other ports for years without being disposed of.

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In the latest enforcement action, the Directorate General of Customs and Excise seized 43 containers suspected of containing smuggled used clothing from two cases in Jakarta and South Kalimantan.

As of June 22, 2026, inspections of 19 containers found 2,067 bales containing used clothing, clothing accessories, and bags.

The total cargo in the 43 containers is estimated at 4,687 bales, with an economic value of approximately Rp37.5 billion (US$2 million).

According to Purbaya, law enforcement is not limited to securing the goods, as Customs and Excise keeps conducting detailed investigations to determine those behind their importation, storage, and distribution.

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Furthermore, the government will also investigate the owner of the warehouse in West Kalimantan, where the storage is taking place, as well as those involved in the ownership of the 43 containers in Jakarta.

The Ministry of Finance did not calculated potential losses in terms of import duties and taxes (PDRI), as used clothing is a prohibited commodity for import as stipulated in Minister of Trade Regulation Number 47 of 2025.

However, the circulation of illegally imported used clothing may lead to non-material losses, including damage to the country’s image and the spread of diseases caused by bacteria or viruses on the garments.

Related news: Indonesia orders online marketplaces to shut down thrift stores

Translator: Imamatul Silfia, Resinta Sulistiyandari

Editor: Fransiska Ninditya

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