In recent days, public discussions around customs practices have resurfaced, sparked by comments from Minister Purbaya and various business perspectives. One thing has become clear: the business world is moving toward an era where every piece of transactional data — from declared value to the parties involved — is under increasing scrutiny.
For some companies, this may feel like added pressure. Yet from a broader view, transparency is not a threat; it’s an opportunity, provided that internal systems and data are ready to support it.
Customs and AML: Two Systems Now More Connected Than Ever
Many assume that Customs and AML (Anti-Money Laundering) operate in completely separate domains. In reality, they work on different sides of the same process: cross-border trade.
Customs authorities oversee the movement and valuation of goods, while AML Watchlists monitor the flow of funds and the identities behind them. When these two systems intersect, risks like trade-based money laundering (TBML) — including over/under invoicing or phantom shipments — become much easier to detect.
This means customs data isn’t only about logistics and paperwork; it’s also an integral part of business integrity. Ensuring that what’s declared on paper aligns with the actual flow of money is increasingly becoming a shared responsibility.
Non-Compliance Is Not Always Intentional
When public attention turns to customs irregularities, it’s easy to blame “bad actors.” But the reality on the ground is far more nuanced.
In many cases, discrepancies arise not from intent, but from fragmented systems — manual recording of trade data, disconnected financial and logistics departments, or a lack of automated partner verification. Under such conditions, data mismatches can occur even without malicious intent.
And this is where compliance risks often surface: quietly, unintentionally, and avoidably. The challenge isn’t a lack of awareness, but rather the absence of integration that ensures accuracy across every part of the organization.
Digital Compliance: From Burden to Competitive Edge
As customs digitalization and cross-border monitoring advance, businesses are faced with a new challenge: ensuring every transaction and business partner complies with AML and sanctions requirements.
But this challenge can become an advantage. With today’s automated identity verification and AML screening systems, companies can detect potential red flags early, even before any contract is signed or shipment dispatched.
These systems don’t just screen names against global sanction lists, but also validate identity data through biometrics and e-KYC processes. The result: faster compliance, reduced manual workload, and fewer human errors.
In other words, compliance is no longer just about ticking boxes — it’s becoming a driver of efficiency and a safeguard for brand reputation.
Collaboration, Not Surveillance
We all know there’s no such thing as a perfect system. But as trade becomes increasingly transparent, what businesses need isn’t harsher oversight — it’s stronger collaboration among regulators, enterprises, and technology providers.
When companies establish robust verification and screening practices, they’re not just “staying out of trouble.” They’re helping build a cleaner, more credible business ecosystem. Because the higher the quality of private-sector data, the more effective public oversight becomes.
Transparency Is Readiness
The ongoing debate around customs practices shouldn’t make businesses defensive, it should make them reflective. Transparency is not a punishment; it’s a sign that business ecosystems are evolving toward greater accountability.
In the era of open data, success doesn’t belong to the biggest players — but to the most prepared. And preparation starts with one simple step: ensuring that every identity, transaction, and business partner is verified from the very beginning.
Last modified: November 17, 2025
