Jakarta, Sept. 29 -- The Indonesian government plans to issue a new regulation to curb the circulation of illegal cigarettes, particularly those sold without excise bands, which have spread widely in recent years.

"The concept is currently being prepared," said Deputy Minister of Industry Faisol Riza in Jakarta on Monday.

Data from the Ministry of Industry shows that illegal cigarettes accounted for 3.03 percent of the total cigarette volume in 2019. The figure climbed to 6.9 percent in 2023.

Most of these untaxed cigarettes are machine-rolled clove cigarettes (Sigaret Kretek Mesin/SKM), Riza noted.

He warned that illegal circulation is disrupting the domestic tobacco industry, causing a drop in legal cigarette production.

"Several p...