Customs Chief Djaka Budi Faces ‘Mafia’ Framing Amid Reform Push

IndonesianTalk.com — Customs Chief Djaka Budi Faces “Mafia” Framing Amid Reform Push The Director General of Customs and Excise at Indonesia’s Finance Ministry, Djaka Budi Utama, has recently come under public scrutiny following the circulation of narratives linking the Customs and Excise institution to alleged import mafia practices and irregularities at ports. Amid the rapid spread of opinions on social media, several observers believe that a framing campaign has emerged targeting Djaka Budi personally, even before the broader impact of the reforms he initiated can be fully assessed. Since being appointed to lead the Directorate General of Customs and Excise, Djaka Budi has reportedly pushed for internal restructuring, tighter supervision of goods flows, and stronger inter-agency coordination in combating smuggling activities. According to analysts, such measures may have triggered resistance from groups that had allegedly benefited from loopholes in Indonesia’s import and trade system. Public policy observer Stephanus Slamet Budi Raharjo…