Police seize truck in Indonesia's illegal phone import probe

hartono · Apr 22, 2026

Brigadier General Ade Safri Simanjuntak (center), director of special economic crimes at Indonesia’s National Police Criminal Investigation Department, speaks about an illegal mobile phone import case in Sidoarjo, East Java, on Tuesday, April 21, 2026. (ANTARA/Fahmi Alfian)

Sidoarjo, E Java (ANTARA) - Indonesia’s police seized a truck of suspected evidence in an illegal mobile phone import probe in Sidoarjo, East Java, as officials expanded a case first uncovered in Jakarta.

Economic crimes director Brigadier General Ade Safri Simanjuntak said investigators searched a shop house owned by PT TSL as part of the ongoing investigation.

“This is a development of the Jakarta case where two suspects have been named, DCP, also known as P, and SJ,” Simanjuntak said on Tuesday.

He said officers confiscated an expedition truck carrying logistics packages although the contents remain under examination to verify links to alleged illegal imports.

PT TSL is suspected of acting as a parent company operating multiple shell firms to import phones illegally via air cargo routes through Juanda International Airport.

Investigators are not ruling out additional suspects as the probe widens beyond those already charged in the initial operation.

In the earlier Jakarta operation, police searched six locations including warehouses and offices used to store illicit imported goods tied to the same network.

Authorities seized 56,557 iPhones worth about Rp225.2 billion or 13.7 million US dollars along with over 1,600 Android phones.

The total value of the seized electronics and 18,574 accessories is estimated at Rp235.08 billion or approximately 14.3 million US dollars.

Investigators also found baby clothing and toys that failed to meet mandatory national standards but had been sold domestically through e-commerce platforms.

“The Sidoarjo investigation is ongoing and we will provide updates as it progresses,” Simanjuntak said regarding the latest developments.