BATAM – The Batam Customs and Excise Office has acted against used apparel being imported as passenger carry-on baggage, recording 682 packages confiscated in 2025 as of Dec 8.
The modus operandi is someone taking custody of another person’s luggage and then transporting it through the international ferry port serving Batam to Singapore and Malaysia routes. An average of 56 packages were confiscated per month.
The Batam Center International Ferry Port recorded 78 violations and 358 packages of used clothing, Batam Customs chief Zaky Firmansyah said in a press release on Dec 10.
He said that in addition to being carried directly by passengers, another often-used modus operandi is asking other passengers to register checked in baggage containing used clothing under their names for a fee.
This method usually uses used luggage with uniformed size and physical features and is often used by international passengers because the payment they receive could cover their boarding fees in Malaysia or Singapore.
