Who owns the smuggled sugar?<\/p>\n
Sugar smuggling is not new to Indonesia. It has long occurred
\nand it is common. Sugar entering Indonesia illegally now
\nrepresents 30 percent of the total sugar imported legally by the
\ncountry every year, amounting to 400,000 to 500,000 tons -- an
\nincredible figure.<\/p>\n
Many see the smuggling as beneficial to consumers who can buy
\nsugar at a cheaper price. The smuggling, however, harms our
\nsugarcane farmers and the country's sugar industry. Sweet sugar
\nhas thus turned bitter.<\/p>\n
Two companies are suspected of owning the smuggled sugar --
\nthe state plantations company PTPN X, and the Association of
\nVillage Cooperatives (INKUD). Both have denied ownership.<\/p>\n
Indonesians have a way with words. Thus, it is easy for
\nofficials to beat around the bush or lie if their illegal
\npractices are discovered. They do not care whether their lies
\nmake sense or not. A thief can also cry \"thief!\"<\/p>\n
The law has become powerless to deal with smugglers. As proof,
\nno one has been arrested for smuggling the sugar.<\/p>\n
It is said large-scale smuggling could not occur unless some
\npower was behind it. That is it, then. Everything is clear.<\/p>\n
-- Media Indonesia, Jakarta<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/who-owns-the-smuggled-sugar-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }