Metro Police Uncover LPG Subsidy Adulteration Syndicate Profiting Rp 2.7 Billion

Jakarta, Kompas.com - Metro Jaya Regional Police have uncovered an LPG subsidy adulteration syndicate at six different locations, namely in East Jakarta, West Jakarta, Bekasi City, Tangerang Regency, and Tangerang City.

The Director of Special Criminal Investigation (Dirreskrimsus) of Metro Jaya Regional Police, Senior Commissioner Victor Dean Mackbon, stated that over approximately three years of operation, the six illegal LPG warehouses had reaped profits amounting to billions of rupiah.

In West Jakarta, the perpetrators obtained profits reaching Rp 793 million. At two locations in East Jakarta, each amounted to Rp 50.8 million and Rp 1.3 billion.

“So the total profits obtained are approximately Rp 2.7 billion,” Victor said during a press conference at Metro Jaya Regional Police Headquarters on Thursday (16/4/2026).

Victor conveyed that 11 people were arrested in this case revelation.

Each had different roles, namely one owner, three injectors called “doctors”, four operators who transferred the gas contents, two drivers, and one assistant.

The method used was transferring the contents of four subsidised 3-kilogram LPG cylinders into empty 12-kilogram cylinders using a hose and the aid of ice blocks.

With this method, the perpetrators could reap profits of hundreds of thousands of rupiah by selling non-subsidy gas at normal prices.

“It is also an appeal, so agents that might sell to people repeatedly in a short time should also be suspected of potential gas content transfer,” he advised.

In this revelation, the police seized 1,259 gas cylinders of various sizes, consisting of 954 subsidised 3kg LPG cylinders, 272 non-subsidy 12kg LPG cylinders, and 3 non-subsidy 55kg LPG cylinders.