The Soekarno-Hatta (Soetta) Main Customs Office has issued a statement responding to viral social media content showing a woman in distress during an inspection by officers over Pokemon cards. According to Soekarno-Hatta Customs, the rigorous inspection conducted was entirely in line with existing regulations.
Under Ministry of Finance Regulation (PMK) number 34 of 2025, all imported goods brought by passengers into the country are mandated to be declared to customs officials. Soetta Customs clarified that on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, officers at Soekarno-Hatta Airport inspected the luggage of a passenger identified by the initials JES, who had just arrived from abroad.
“The inspection was initiated as a direct consequence of X-Ray imagery indicating the presence of a significant quantity of Pokemon cards within the passenger’s suitcase,” read a statement quoted from the official @bcsoetta Instagram account on Sunday, May 17, 2026. This initial alert prompted a more thorough investigation.
Following an in-depth examination, officers detected strong indications of “jastip” activity—a term referring to a personal shopping or concierge service—associated with the items. This suspicion was substantiated by cross-border travel data, which revealed that the passenger had undertaken overseas trips with unusually high frequency within a short timeframe. Furthermore, monitoring of the passenger’s social media accounts showed active engagement in offering foreign goods for sale, reinforcing the commercial nature of the activity.
Subsequently, customs officers proceeded to confirm and verify the passenger’s claims regarding the purchase and intended use of the cards. Soetta Customs further highlighted the considerable value of these collectibles, noting that a single Pokemon card can range in price from IDR 100,000 to IDR 100 million, with some rare editions even fetching up to IDR 1.5 billion.
Upon confirmation by officers, the passenger asserted that the items were intended as gifts or souvenirs and not for commercial trade. To support her claim, the woman also presented proof of purchase, specifically an invoice, to the inspecting officers.
As stipulated by regulations, every passenger is granted a duty-free exemption for personal goods up to a value of US$500 per person. However, it is crucial to understand that this valuable facility does not apply if the carried items are classified as merchandise or commercial goods, which was the central point of contention in this particular case.
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Summary
The Soekarno-Hatta Customs office recently addressed a viral incident involving the inspection of a passenger, identified as JES, who was carrying a large quantity of Pokémon cards. Officials stated that the search was conducted in accordance with regulations, as X-ray imaging detected an unusual volume of items that required further verification upon her arrival on May 13, 2026. The inspection was intensified due to suspicions of commercial “jastip” activity, supported by evidence of the passenger’s frequent overseas travel and social media promotional activities.
Although the passenger claimed the cards were personal gifts and provided invoices as proof, authorities emphasized that the duty-free exemption of US$500 per person does not apply to commercial goods. Given that rare Pokémon cards can reach valuations of up to IDR 1.5 billion, customs officials carefully scrutinized the shipment to determine its true nature. The case serves as a reminder that all imported items exceeding standard exemptions must be properly declared to comply with Ministry of Finance regulations.