Govt to close down ports used for Smuggling: Hatta

Pekanbaru - The government will close illegal ports often used by smugglers in order to fight smuggling activities which harmed the people's economy in Raiu, a minister said.

"In the near future, based on a coordination meeting held by the central government, ports which have no operational permits will be closed down," Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Hatta Rajasa said here over the weekend.

The minister said there were indications that smuggling activities were done through many illegal ports. And this has been discussed in a coordinating meeting with among others the office of the coordinating minister for economic affairs.

He said that if these ports remain operational they would cause various negative impacts, including smuggling, that will incur losses on the state.

"Smuggling activities must be overcome as they have big impacts on the country's economy. Imports could only be carried out through certain ports which are tightly supervised," he said.

It was believed that smuggling activities were rampant in Riau province, such as in Dumai City, Bangkalis and Rengat. They are also rampant along River Siak that divides Pekanbaru.

In order to fight the smuggling activities, his side has ordered the custom and excise office to increase supervision over areas prone to smuggling.