KPK Arrests 17 in Customs & Tax Corruption Sting Operation 2026

KPK Conducts Sweeping Raids Targeting Customs and Tax Officials

JAKARTA – The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) carried out a series of sting operations on Wednesday, February 4, 2026, arresting 17 individuals in Jakarta and Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan. The operations targeted officials within the Directorate General of Customs and Excise and the tax office in Banjarmasin, signaling a significant escalation in the government’s anti-corruption efforts.

According to KPK Deputy Chair Fitroh Rohcahyanto, twelve of those arrested are employees of the Directorate General of Customs and Excise at the Ministry of Finance. The remaining five individuals are associated with PT BR, a private company. Rohcahyanto confirmed the operations but declined to provide further details regarding the specific allegations or the identities of those detained.

The KPK has since established that suspects have been formally named in connection with the raids. Details regarding the charges and the individuals involved are expected to be released later today, February 5, 2026, during a press conference.

A separate sting operation took place simultaneously in Banjarmasin, focusing on alleged bribery related to tax refund processes. The KPK has reportedly already designated suspects in the Banjarmasin case.

The operations represent the fifth KPK sting operation of 2026, indicating an intensified focus on rooting out corruption within state institutions and the private sector. The cases investigated involve illicit import manipulation and bribery, suggesting a pattern of corruption at high levels.

Minister of Finance Responds, Calls Raids “Shock Therapy”

The raids have prompted a strong reaction from Minister of Finance Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa, who described the KPK’s actions as “shock therapy” for employees of the Ministry. Speaking on Wednesday, February 4, 2026, Sadewa stated that the operations should serve as a deterrent to corrupt practices within the Ministry.

“We look at this as perhaps a shock therapy for our employees,” Sadewa said. He affirmed that the Ministry would provide legal assistance to any employees caught up in the investigations, while also emphasizing a commitment to allowing the legal process to unfold without interference.

Sadewa also stated that he would not involve President Prabowo Subianto in any attempt to halt the legal proceedings. “I will not intervene in the legal process in the sense that, for example, I come to the President asking the KPK to stop the case or the Prosecutor’s Office to stop the case as in the past,” he said.

The KPK also conducted a sting operation in Bekasi on Thursday, December 18, 2025, arresting approximately 10 people. This operation followed similar actions in Banten and Jakarta the previous day, where nine individuals, including a prosecutor and two lawyers, were apprehended.

During the Bekasi operation, authorities seized cash amounting to approximately Rp 900 million, along with foreign currencies including USD, SGD, and JPY, and precious metals.

The recent series of KPK operations underscores the ongoing challenges of combating corruption within Indonesia’s government and financial institutions. The investigations are expected to shed light on the extent of illicit activities and potentially lead to further arrests, and prosecutions.