Not Just Talk! Bareskrim Uncovers 23 Tonnes of Illegal Onions

Pontianak, VIVA – The Anti-Smuggling Enforcement Task Force (Satgas Gakkum Penyelundupan) of Bareskrim Polri has uncovered a large-scale illegal import of food commodities in Pontianak, West Kalimantan.

From an enforcement operation at two locations, police secured dozens of tonnes of onions and other food items suspected of entering Indonesia illegally.

“The enforcement was carried out on Monday, 13 April 2026, by the Gakkum Team of Dittipideksus Bareskrim Polri at two different points in the Pontianak Selatan area,” said the Director of Tipideksus Bareskrim Polri, Brigadier General of Police Ade Safri Simanjuntak, on Friday, 17 April 2026.

The first location was at Jalan Budi Karya No. 5. Here, officers found various commodities such as shallots, garlic, and yellow onions totalling 10.35 tonnes.

Meanwhile, at the second location on Jalan Budi Karya Komplek Pontianak Square No. C-6, Kelurahan Benuamelayu Darat, the team again found similar commodities in larger quantities, plus dried chillies. The total find at this location reached 12.796 tonnes.

Combined, the total illegal food commodities secured from the two locations amounted to 23.146 tonnes.

In this enforcement, police detailed several pieces of evidence secured, including shallots, garlic, yellow onions, red berry onions, and dried chillies.

Based on initial clarifications, it was learned that the commodities originated from various countries. Shallots are suspected to come from Thailand, garlic and dried chillies from China, and onions from the Netherlands.

The goods are believed to have entered Indonesia via Malaysia before circulating in West Kalimantan. Police also revealed that the shop or warehouse owners only acted as recipients or buyers from other parties.

“Meanwhile, the main supplier network is still being pursued by authorities,” he said.

As a security measure, the team has set up police lines at the storage locations for the illegal commodities. Going forward, Bareskrim Polri will continue to develop this case by hunting down the main perpetrators and identifying other warehouses suspected of storing similar goods.

Currently, at least three additional locations are under surveillance. Additionally, police will coordinate with Perum Bulog Pontianak for the storage of evidence in the form of the secured food commodities.