REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Indonesias Finance Minister Bambang Brodjonegoro said the surge in beef smuggling or illegal beef imports in 2016 have risen to 385.5 tons.

"In 2015, Indonesia managed to prevent 23.4 tons (of beef being imported illegally). Until June 2016 we have foiled 385.5 tons of illegal beef imports attempts," said Bambang here Thursday.

Bambang said 21.8 tons of illegally imported beef had been given to the Coordinating Ministry of Peoples Empowerment and Culture before being distributed by the Ministry of Social Affairs among the needy.

The Customs and Finance Ministry are also making efforts to monitor the goods entering Indonesia illegally.

Besides giving away 21.8 tons of smuggled beef that is beyond the states quota, an auction for 163 tons of beef will also be held in the next two days.

"We will hold an auction for smuggled beef found in seven containers, amounting to a total of 163 tons, which was imported from Australia and New Zealand on May 21, 2016," Bambang said.

Furthermore, the ministry is currently preparing for the auction and expects the meat to be distributed immediately after that.

"We will ask the winning bidder to sell it at affordable prices to the public. Under the direction of the president the affordable price of beef is around Rp80.000," he added.

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