Control of Smuggling through Sea Road in Supporting Maritime Security and Economy in Riau Region

The territorial water of Riau become a transnational crime lane for used clothes, narcotics, electronics, cigarettes, and liquor. One of the efforts to maintain maritime security is to eradicate smuggling activities. The study focuses on analyzing the role of Customs in overcoming smuggling activities and analyzing the problems of Customs patrols, which are implementing the Automatic Identification System (AIS) and the use of high-speed vessels by smugglers. This study uses a qualitative approach through interviews and literature studies. The results indicated the role of Customs in conducting a maritime patrol to undertake smuggling surveillance has according to the Customs Law. The law enforcement in implementing AIS can be improved by synergizing involving agencies who conduct maritime patrol to provide information regarding the violations and giving administrative sanctions for those disobedience vessels which not activated AIS. Efforts to eradicate smugglers who use vessels with high-speed craft also required an internal synergy between the team of Customs on land and sea to take action against smuggling where the vessels are anchored, then the quick reaction team also needed to intercept the smugglers.