CUSTOMS PATROL APPREHENDS ILLEGAL LIQUOR CARRYING BOAT FROM SINGAPORE

Jakarta, Dec 11 (ANTARA) - A customs patrol boat arrested a motor boat 'Dua Bersaudara' sailing from Singapore to Batam for carrying illegal liquor.

Spokesperson for the Customs and Excise Directorate General Evy Suhartantyo said the attempt at smuggling the liqour of different brands into Indonesia may cause a loss of around Rp1 billion to the state.

The customs patrol boat intercepted the motor boat in the Singapore strait on Thursday.

Earlier on Thursday, the customs patrol also destroyed state-controlled 103,057 imported bottled alcohol drinks at the Jakarta International Container Terminal (JICT), Tanjung Priok, Jakarta.

The illegal products comprised 4,723 cartons of bottled Natural Soju from Korea, and another 8,597 bottled liquor of different brands and types including Mount Rose, Lindemans, Amarula, Johny Walker, Smirnoff, Jack Daniels, Chateu Noirac, Alexis Lichine, Hacienda Sauvignon, Queen Adelaide, and Drostdy Hof.

Alcoholic drinks which had been seized by customs personnel had been placed under government control.

Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati said that she had had several meetings with the Minister of Trade Mari Elka Pangestu to discuss the problem.