Bali Police Uncover Syndicate Abusing Subsidised Fuel and LPG, Saving State Rp1.2 Billion

A joint team from the Bali Regional Police’s Special Criminal Investigation Directorate and precinct officers have successfully dismantled a syndicate involved in the misuse of subsidised fuel and LPG. Throughout a series of enforcement operations in June 2026, the police uncovered eight major cases and safeguarded potential state losses amounting to Rp1.2 billion. Bali Police Chief, Inspector General Daniel Adityajaya, accompanied by key officials, stated that the operation resulted in the arrest of eight suspects from various locations across Bali. ‘The cases are currently under investigation to complete the examination of expert witnesses,’ he said at the Bali Regional Police headquarters on Monday (29/6). In the LPG misuse cases, suspects were found transferring gas from subsidised 3-kg canisters into non-subsidised 12-kg canisters using a specially designed iron pipe. The illegally refilled canisters were then sold at non-subsidised market prices for personal profit. For the fuel misuse cases, perpetrators repeatedly purchased Pertalite at petrol stations using vehicles with modified tanks. They also manipulated the barcode data for subsidised fuel to stockpile large quantities of petrol for illegal resale. Police seized significant evidence during the raids. The suspects have been charged under Article 55 of Law Number 22 of 2001 concerning Oil and Gas, as amended by Law Number 6 of 2023 and further adjusted by Law Number 1 of 2026. They face a maximum prison sentence of six years and a maximum fine of Rp50 million. The Bali Police Chief stressed his commitment to cracking down on illegal practices that harm public welfare and disrupt the distribution of state subsidies. ‘I emphasise that there is no safe place for criminals within Bali’s jurisdiction,’ he concluded.