Thekabarnews.com—A 28-year-old woman, identified only by her initials, JS, broke down in tears during a customs inspection at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport. This occurred after we carried out a lengthy examination of Pokémon toys, cards, and stickers. She found these items in her luggage upon her return from Guangzhou, China.

“After they found several items related to Pokémon in her suitcase, the customs officers conducted a thorough inspection,” JS said, as quoted by Kompascom on Wednesday, May 13, 2026.

“I began to cry, and I flipped out. They held me there for a while,” she added.

She stated that as soon as she got her bag back, officers immediately put it down in the red-line inspection lane.

Customs officers then opened her suitcase and asked her about the prices on her purchase invoice.

JS said officers took her possessions and checked the prices of the items she declared one by one online. This happened because they did not find the prices according to market value.

Her carry-on was also searched, and more Pokémon collectibles were found.

She said she was interrogated for hours in the customs office. The incident happened despite her explanation that the items were gifts for her children.

Her husband, KV, 33, expressed disappointment with how officials treated her throughout the process.

“If there were any taxes or fees, they could have just told us,” KV said.

The incident immediately sparked a heated debate on social networks. Many users debated whether the customs check was excessive or a normal border procedure.

Others defended the officers, saying customs officials need to inspect imported goods to prevent tax evasion and undeclared commercial imports.

Some have questioned the need to put long and stressful processes on personal items such as gifts from family members.

In response to public criticism, Hengky Tomuan Parlindungan Aritonang explained that every passenger arriving in Indonesia receives a customs duty and tax exemption for personal goods valued at up to US$500.

“If it is more than that, passengers have to pay import duties and taxes,” Hengky said.

Customs officers said they carried out the inspection according to the rules currently in force for the luggage of passengers arriving from abroad.

“The audits are to verify compliance with import taxation rules and to differentiate between personal belongings and merchandise for resale,” they said.

The incident has revived discussion on how to balance customs enforcement with the passenger experience at Indonesia’s busiest international airport.

The incident reminds travelers, especially those with gifts from abroad, that declared value and documentation can make a difference. Such details could be the difference between a smooth trip home and hours in the customs office.

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