Illegal Oil Refinery Dismantled by Muba Police, Tens of Thousands of Litres of Oil Seized

The Musi Banyuasin Police have successfully eradicated an illegal oil refining operation within their jurisdiction. Officers secured tens of thousands of litres of crude oil and processed fuel from a suspected illegal refinery site in Dusun IV, Dawas Village, Keluang District, Musi Banyuasin Regency.

The Head of Public Relations for the Muba Police, AKP Hutahaean, explained that the discovery began when officers found the illegal petroleum refining activity. "The suspects are believed to have processed crude oil by cooking it in refinery furnaces to illegally produce processed fuel in the form of petrol and diesel," Hutahaean stated in a written release on Friday, 24 July 2026.

Police apprehended the suspects along with a quantity of evidence, which was taken to the Musi Banyuasin Police headquarters for further examination and investigation. The evidence secured includes two blower units, one T-shaped iron bar, a hose approximately 10 metres long, two suction machines, six tedmond units, and one tank with a capacity of around 185 drums or approximately 37,000 litres.

Additionally, officers seized approximately 21,000 litres of liquid suspected to be crude petroleum, around 9,000 litres of liquid suspected to be processed petrol from the refining activity, and approximately 20,000 litres of liquid suspected to be processed diesel from the refining activity.

"We need to emphasise that this is a direct commitment from the Muba Police Chief, AKBP Ruri Prastowo, who has firmly and directly ordered the Head of the Criminal Investigation Unit, AKP M. Wahyudi, to continue taking action against illegal oil refining activities that have the potential to endanger public safety, damage the environment, and cause state losses," he said.

All evidence has been secured and the investigation is ongoing to uncover the parties involved in the illegal refinery activity.