Indonesian National Police Arrest 330 Suspects in Subsidised Fuel and Gas Diversion Case
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Criminal Investigation Agency of National Police Headquarters arrested 330 suspects in cases of subsidised fuel oil (BBM) and LPG gas diversion during an enforcement operation that lasted 13 days.
Director of Special Crimes at the National Police Criminal Investigation Agency, Brigadier General Pol. Moh. Irhamni, explained that the arrests of the suspects are part of the National Police’s commitment to supporting the government in eradicating the practice of diverting subsidised fuel.
“This is the uncovering of criminal acts of misuse of subsidised BBM and LPG from 7 April to 20 April 2026,” said Irhamni during a press conference at the National Police Criminal Investigation Agency in South Jakarta on Tuesday.
Irhamni explained that the 330 suspects in the fuel diversion were arrested at 223 crime scenes (TKP) spread across several regions, namely Aceh, West Sumatra, Riau, Lampung, Jambi, Riau Islands, Bengkulu, Bangka Belitung, Banten, West Java, Central Java, East Java, Bali, East Kalimantan, West Kalimantan, North Sulawesi, Southeast Sulawesi, South Sulawesi, West Nusa Tenggara, East Nusa Tenggara, Maluku, and West Papua.
Irhamni explained that the suspects carried out the fuel diversion using several methods.
Some of the methods used included the suspects purchasing diesel fuel repeatedly and then stockpiling it in certain locations to be sold at a higher price afterwards.
He added that another method used by the suspects was purchasing BBM using modified trucks to carry more load.
After that, the vehicle was placed in a certain location so that the BBM could be resold at a higher price.
In fact, continued Irhamni, some fuel stations (SPBU) collaborated with the suspects to stockpile subsidised BBM.
As for the diversion of LPG cylinders, said Irhamni, the suspects transferred the contents of 3-kilogram LPG cylinders to 12- and 50-kilogram LPG cylinders and sold them at non-subsidised prices.
“The criminal act of misusing subsidised BBM and LPG has caused state financial losses of Rp243,069,600,800,” he explained.
For their actions, the suspects are charged under the alleged misuse of trading subsidised BBM or LPG in accordance with Article 55 of Law No. 22 of 2001 on Oil and Gas as amended in Article 40 Point 9 of Law No. 6 of 2023 on the Enactment of Government Regulation in Lieu of Law No. 2 of 2022 on Job Creation into Law, with a maximum penalty of six years’ imprisonment.