Metro Police Bust Subsidy Gas Adulteration Syndicate, 1,259 Cylinders Seized

The Directorate of Special Criminal Investigation (Ditreskrimsus) of Metro Jaya Police has uncovered the practice of gas adulteration in Jakarta and Tangerang. Police arrested 11 suspects, including ‘doctors’ and operators.

Dirreskrimsus Metro Jaya Police Commissioner Victor Dean Mackbon stated that the case was uncovered at five different locations. One location in West Jakarta, two in East Jakarta, one in Bekasi City, one in Tangerang Regency, and one in Tangerang City.

Of the 11 suspects, eight acted as owners doubling as doctors, namely AJT, ABD, TWL, RBY, IH, UDN, ARY, and JIM. ADT and HC served as drivers distributing the gas, while ER acted as a helper.

Victor explained that the suspects injected subsidised 3kg LPG gas into 12kg and 50kg non-subsidised cylinders. The transfer was done using iron pipes and modified syringes.

“The modus operandi employed by the suspects involved transferring the contents of 3kg LPG gas (subsidised) to empty 12kg LPG cylinders (non-subsidised) and to empty 50kg LPG cylinders (non-subsidised),” Victor said during a press conference at Metro Jaya Police Headquarters on Thursday (16/4/2026).

Based on preliminary investigations, the suspects purchased 3kg LPG gas for Rp 18,000–20,000 per cylinder. They sold the 12kg injected gas for Rp 200,000 and the 50kg for Rp 850,000.

The suspects had been operating for a year. They obtained profits up to billions of rupiah.

“The suspects’ transfer of contents from 3kg LPG cylinders to 12kg and 50kg LPG cylinders has been ongoing for between one month and 12 months. The profits obtained by the suspects during this activity amount to approximately Rp 2,700,464,000,” he clarified.

Police seized 1,259 gas cylinders of various sizes and vehicles. The perpetrators have been named as suspects and are charged under Article 40 Number 9 of Law Number 11 of 2020 on Job Creation, amending provisions of Article 55 of Law Number 22 of 2001 on Oil and Earth Gas, and Article 55 paragraph (1) first of the Criminal Code.