Four Suspects Charged in Distribution of 12.9 Tonnes of Expired Imported Mutton

The Criminal Investigation Body (Bareskrim) of the Indonesian National Police has named four suspects in a case involving the circulation of 12.9 tonnes of expired imported mutton distributed across Tangerang and Jakarta regions.

Setyo K Heriyanto, Sub-director I of the Economic Crime Directorate at Bareskrim, identified the suspects as Irfan Yuniardi, the principal seller; Triyono and Ahmad Reo, who acted as intermediaries or brokers; and Sandi Sumarto, who sold the meat at markets.

“These four suspects know each other, so they are accustomed to selling this meat from distributors through intermediaries to field sellers,” Setyo said in Tangerang on Monday, 16 March.

The case emerged after authorities discovered approximately 9 tonnes of meat being transported in three trucks from a warehouse in the Kosambi Industrial Estate, Tangerang Regency, Banten, on 4 March 2026.

Further investigation led to two additional locations: a warehouse in Poris, Batuceper District, Tangerang City, and another warehouse on Jalan Raya Serang, Cikupa District, Tangerang Regency.

Operations at all three locations resulted in the seizure of a total of 12.9 tonnes of expired imported mutton.

Setyo revealed that the police interviewed several witnesses and coordinated with the Directorate General of Livestock and Animal Health at the Ministry of Agriculture to conduct quality testing of the meat.

“The organoleptic test results showed the meat colour was abnormal, it had an off-odour rather than typical meat smell due to rancidity, and the acidity level, or pH, was elevated above normal,” he stated.

According to the investigation findings, the distribution of expired meat originated with suspect Irfan Yuniardi, who still held approximately 14 tonnes of remaining stock of imported Australian mutton purchased in 2022. The meat had exceeded its expiry date since April 2024.

Despite this, the suspect continued selling it through two intermediaries, Triyono and Ahmad Reo, at Rp50,000 per kilogramme. The meat was subsequently resold to SS, a vendor at Kebayoran Lama Market in South Jakarta, for Rp80,000 per kilogramme.

“In February 2026, suspect Sandi purchased 1.4 tonnes of expired meat from suspects Triyono and Ahmad Reo for Rp120 million, or Rp80,000 per kilogramme,” he explained.

Subsequently, Setyo continued, the meat was resold at markets by suspect Sandi at Rp85,000 per kilogramme to buyers at Kebayoran Lama Market.

“Approximately 1.07 tonnes of meat had been sold at the market,” he said.

The suspects face charges under several laws, including Law Number 8 of 1999 on Consumer Protection, Law Number 18 of 2012 on Food as amended through the Omnibus Law, and Law Number 7 of 2014 on Trade.

“The maximum criminal penalty is imprisonment for up to 5 years or a fine of up to Rp2 billion,” Setyo stressed.