Akmalal Hamdhi, Jakarta – The Directorate General of Customs and Excise has dismissed 27 employees over the past two years for fraud and serious disciplinary violations, while disciplinary proceedings are underway against another 33 staff members, the agency said on Tuesday.
The action comes amid a series of corruption cases involving customs officials and mounting criticism of the directorate's performance, including from the finance minister.
Nirwala Dwi Heryanto, Director of Communications and Service User Guidance at the Directorate General of Customs and Excise, said the measures are part of tighter internal supervision and efforts to improve institutional performance, particularly in safeguarding state revenue.
"We are committed to taking firm action against all disciplinary violations as part of strengthening the quality and integrity of human resources at Customs and Excise," Nirwala said during a year-end media briefing in Jakarta.
The internal overhaul follows a warning from Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa, who has given the customs authority one year to improve its performance, including tackling under-invoicing practices.
Failure to deliver satisfactory results could lead to drastic measures, including freezing the directorate and placing its roughly 16,000 employees on leave, in line with directives from President Prabowo Subianto.
Purbaya has also said the government could consider extreme options, including transferring customs functions to private surveyor institutions if reforms fail to restore public confidence.
Responding to the challenge, Nirwala said Customs and Excise will maintain consistency in supervision, enforcement, and revenue collection.
"We are committed to protecting the public, safeguarding state revenue, and supporting national economic growth through a professional and integrity-driven customs authority," he said.
Toward the end of 2025, the agency has intensified oversight to secure its revenue target of Rp 301.6 trillion ($18 billion), including through joint programs with other government institutions.
For 2026, Customs and Excise has been assigned a higher revenue target of Rp 336 trillion, including plans to impose export duties on gold and coal. Preparations include deploying artificial intelligence to strengthen customs valuation and goods classification, modernizing laboratories, upgrading staff competencies, and intensifying coordinated enforcement operations nationwide, Nirwala said.