Analyst: Polri is the frontline guard in breaking the chain of subsidised fuel smuggling
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Senior legal and political analyst Boni Hargens stated that the Indonesian National Police (Polri) constitutes the frontline guard in breaking the chain of smuggling of fuel oil and LPG, which harms the state and society.
“Polri possesses criminal intelligence capacity and operational strength across all regions of Indonesia,” Boni said in a statement received in Jakarta on Tuesday.
According to him, the smuggling of subsidised fuel oil (BBM) and LPG constitutes a complex economic crime, involving extensive distribution networks, elements from various levels, and cross-border connections.
Boni explicitly stated that Polri’s contribution to the anti-smuggling agenda manifests the commitment and loyalty of National Police Chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo and the entire Polri institution to President Prabowo Subianto as Head of State.
Therefore, he said, institutional loyalty is not merely formal compliance, but a willingness to execute the national agenda with full integrity and effectiveness.
In a broader context, Boni opined that Polri’s contribution to economic law enforcement also serves as an instrument for restoring public trust in the police institution.
Amid various challenges faced by Polri in recent years, Boni continued, active involvement in prestigious agendas such as eradicating smuggling and saving state funds provides an opportunity for Polri to prove its relevance and capacity as a state institution that sides with the people’s interests.
Thus, the President’s direct instructions to the National Police Chief and three other main state officials recently at an event at the Attorney General’s Office in Jakarta on Friday (10/4) are not merely administrative exhortations, but operational commands that demand quick and measured responses from all mentioned institutions.
“This step reflects the seriousness of the Prabowo administration in closing loopholes in state revenue leakage through illegal channels,” he said.
In his direction, Prabowo ordered the National Police Chief, TNI Commander, Head of the State Intelligence Agency (BIN), and the Minister of Finance to synergise in preventing and stopping smuggling to protect state revenue and strengthen national economic resilience.
Boni opined that one important context underlying the President’s instructions is the global geopolitical situation, particularly the impact of ongoing conflicts in the Middle East region.
He stated that these conflicts have created volatility in global energy commodity prices, which ultimately exert significant pressure on Indonesia’s balance of payments and energy subsidy budget.
In such conditions, the smuggling of subsidised BBM becomes increasingly dangerous for two main reasons. First, the price disparity between subsidised BBM and international market prices is widening, thereby increasing economic incentives for smugglers.
Second, pressure on the state revenue and expenditure budget (APBN) due to rising world oil prices makes every subsidy leakage increasingly costly for the state.
“Therefore, the synergy between Polri, TNI, BIN, and the Ministry of Finance is very important to prevent the smuggling of that fuel,” Boni said.
Previously, the Directorate of Specific Economic Crimes of Bareskrim Polri successfully uncovered 665 cases of alleged misuse of subsidised BBM and LPG in 2025–2026.
“We, together with regional police commands, have conducted intensive law enforcement efforts and successfully uncovered cases of misuse of subsidised BBM and LPG,” said the Director of Specific Crimes of Bareskrim Polri Brigadier General Police Moh Irhamni at a press conference at Bhayangkara Field at Polri Headquarters, Jakarta, on Tuesday (7/4).
He explained that in 2025, there were 658 cases uncovered and 583 suspects secured.
For the scenes of the incidents (TKP), he explained that the cases were spread across 33 provinces, from Aceh, Special Region of Yogyakarta, Gorontalo to Papua.
As a result of the police-handled cases of misuse of BBM and LPG subsidies throughout 2025–2026, there was a potential state financial loss of Rp1.26 trillion.