Illegal Onion Import Case in Malang, Importer Named as Suspect
Police have named a man identified as Benny Sanjir alias BS (46) as a suspect in a case involving the alleged distribution of illegally imported red onions in Malang City.
The investigation began following a police report dated 11 November 2025. The Criminal Investigation Unit of Malang City Police Station investigated a warehouse located on Rajasa Street, Bumiayu Village, Kedungkandang District, Malang City in November 2025.
“The warehouse was found to be receiving supplies of red onions from a supplier named BS,” said Malang City Police Chief Kombes Putu Kholis Aryana in a statement on Tuesday (10 March).
BS, a resident of Brebes District, Central Java, is suspected of acting as an importer who marketed imported red onions that failed to meet size standards. From BS, investigators secured several import documents, including business risk-based licensing documents (NIB), horticultural product import approvals, international sales contracts, quarantine documents, and shipping documents from India.
“The modus operandi used by the suspect was selling imported red onions with sizes below standard, namely less than 5 centimetres. However, import regulations expressly stipulate that red onions that can enter Indonesia must have a minimum diameter of 5 centimetres,” Putu stated.
Putu revealed that the red onions were sold at approximately 8,000 rupiah per kilogramme with demand reaching around 1,500 bags, each weighing approximately 9 kilogrammes per bag.
During the examination, officers conducted physical checks on the red onions by making horizontal cuts to verify the diameter size. “The examination results found approximately 700 bags of red onions had diameters below 5 centimetres. However, based on the Decree of the Indonesian Minister of Agriculture No. 105/Kpts/SR.130/D/12/2017, imported red onions must have a minimum bulb diameter of 5 centimetres,” Putu said.
For his actions, the suspect is charged under Articles 128 and 88(1) (a, c, and d) of Law No. 13 of 2010 on Horticulture as amended by Law No. 6 of 2023 on Job Creation, as well as Articles 62(1) and 8(1)(a) of Law No. 8 of 1999 on Consumer Protection, with a maximum sentence of two years imprisonment or a maximum fine of 2 billion rupiah.
Furthermore, the Food Task Force of Malang City Police Station will continue conducting routine monitoring at traditional markets and food distribution channels. The aim is to detect potential stockpiling, price manipulation, and disruptions to food distribution. This measure is expected to maintain supply stability and ensure that basic necessities remain available to the public in accordance with standards during Ramadan until the approach of Eid al-Fitr.