Investigators have widened the iPhone smuggling case from a trade violation into a deeper corruption inquiry after the Kortastipidkor unit searched the Bea Cukai Juanda office in Sidoarjo, East Java. The move places alleged bribery, gratuities, and abuse of authority at the center of a case tied to goods valued at Rp235.8 billion.
The search was carried out to secure documents and other evidence linked to the illegal handset shipments. Police also said assets or money connected to the case could be seized if they were found during the operation.
Search at Bea Cukai Juanda
On Wednesday, June 24, 2026, Kortastipidkor of the National Police searched the Office of Supervision and Customs Service Type Madya Pabean Juanda in Sidoarjo Regency. According to Kombes Ahmad Yusuf Afandi, who serves as Head of Operations at Kortastipidkor, the search was intended to complete the evidentiary file and trace administrative records related to the suspected smuggling network.
Police are focusing on the flow of permits, paperwork, and other procedural steps that may have been used to smooth the entry of the contraband into Indonesia. That paperwork trail is now part of the broader effort to determine whether other parties played a role beyond the trade side of the case.
From smuggling to corruption allegations
Yusuf said the case is being handled in separate clusters. Dittipideksus Bareskrim Polri is dealing with the illegal trade aspect, while Kortastipidkor is examining corruption, state losses, and possible bribery or gratuities.
That split reflects how the investigation has evolved. What began as a customs and smuggling case is now being treated as a possible misuse of authority inside the import process, with investigators looking at whether internal support helped the shipment move through official channels.
The case began in Sidoarjo
The investigation first gained traction in April 2026, when Dittipideksus Bareskrim Polri searched the PT TSL office in the Surya Inti Permata shop-house complex on Jalan Raya Juanda, Sidoarjo. The company was suspected of using several shell companies to bring in tens of thousands of used mobile phones from abroad without meeting the National Standardization or SNI requirements.
The goods were allegedly moved through the Juanda Airport air-cargo route. Police later identified 76,756 illegal mobile phones from China with a total value of Rp235.8 billion.
Large seizures and two early suspects
Authorities have already seized 56,557 iPhone units, 1,625 Android phones, and tens of thousands of illegal spare parts. Two suspects were named in the initial phase of the case: DCP, who acted as the importer of used goods without SNI compliance, and SJ, who served as the distributor.
| Key Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Total illegal phones | 76,756 units |
| Total value | Rp235.8 billion |
| iPhones seized | 56,557 units |
| Android phones seized | 1,625 units |
| Initial suspects | DCP and SJ |
Investigators are now mapping the wider network behind the imports and distribution chain. Police said the smuggling route likely required not only traders, but also administrative support that allowed the goods to pass through the system.
If the evidence confirms corruption, abuse of authority, or bribery that caused state losses, police said new suspects could still be added to the case. For now, the search at Bea Cukai Juanda has pushed the investigation into a more serious phase that goes beyond the illegal phones themselves.