NTB Clean Sweep Task Force Exposes SPHP Subsidised Rice Adulteration Scheme
The National Food Agency (Bapanas) has reaffirmed its commitment to enforcing action against food violations by exposing a case of adulteration of Stabilisation of Supply and Food Prices (SPHP) rice in West Nusa Tenggara (NTB).
The case was uncovered by the Clean Sweep Task Force (Satgas Saber) for Price, Safety, and Food Quality Violations, which identified one suspect alleged to have been adulterating SPHP rice and selling it as medium-grade rice.
The case came to light following community reports, which were subsequently followed up by the NTB Regional Police, revealing the adulteration practices in West Lombok.
The modus operandi involved the suspect purchasing SPHP rice produced by the state logistics agency Perum Bulog, then transferring its contents from the original 5-kilogramme SPHP packaging into plain white 50-kilogramme sacks and selling it as medium-grade rice at market stalls and directly to consumers in the West Lombok and Central Lombok areas.
The suspect, identified by the initials INS (29 years old), a resident of Kediri District, West Lombok Regency, was apprehended on 19 February 2026.
At the location of the raid, Satgas Saber NTB seized evidence including 140 sacks of ready-to-distribute rice in 50-kilogramme packaging, 1,400 used SPHP 5-kilogramme packaging sheets that had been emptied, 1,650 intact SPHP packaging units, 98 plain white reserve sacks, one sack sewing machine, thread spools, and a digital scale.
The suspect has been charged under Article 62 paragraph (1) in conjunction with Article 8 paragraph (1) of Law No. 8 of 1999 concerning Consumer Protection and/or Article 159 of Law No. 18 of 2012 concerning Food, which carries a maximum penalty of five years' imprisonment and a fine of up to Rp10 billion.
Head of Bapanas and Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman emphasised that there must be no food anomalies, including with SPHP rice, which constitutes a government subsidy programme. The repackaging of subsidised rice into unmarked sacks for resale at higher prices causes losses to both consumers and the state.
The SPHP rice programme, which has been extended until the end of February 2026, aims to provide rice at prices below the Highest Retail Price (HET), ensuring affordability for the public. Bapanas stressed that the task force will continue to monitor and take firm action against any parties found to be manipulating the distribution of subsidised food commodities.
The case was uncovered by the Clean Sweep Task Force (Satgas Saber) for Price, Safety, and Food Quality Violations, which identified one suspect alleged to have been adulterating SPHP rice and selling it as medium-grade rice.
The case came to light following community reports, which were subsequently followed up by the NTB Regional Police, revealing the adulteration practices in West Lombok.
The modus operandi involved the suspect purchasing SPHP rice produced by the state logistics agency Perum Bulog, then transferring its contents from the original 5-kilogramme SPHP packaging into plain white 50-kilogramme sacks and selling it as medium-grade rice at market stalls and directly to consumers in the West Lombok and Central Lombok areas.
The suspect, identified by the initials INS (29 years old), a resident of Kediri District, West Lombok Regency, was apprehended on 19 February 2026.
At the location of the raid, Satgas Saber NTB seized evidence including 140 sacks of ready-to-distribute rice in 50-kilogramme packaging, 1,400 used SPHP 5-kilogramme packaging sheets that had been emptied, 1,650 intact SPHP packaging units, 98 plain white reserve sacks, one sack sewing machine, thread spools, and a digital scale.
The suspect has been charged under Article 62 paragraph (1) in conjunction with Article 8 paragraph (1) of Law No. 8 of 1999 concerning Consumer Protection and/or Article 159 of Law No. 18 of 2012 concerning Food, which carries a maximum penalty of five years' imprisonment and a fine of up to Rp10 billion.
Head of Bapanas and Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman emphasised that there must be no food anomalies, including with SPHP rice, which constitutes a government subsidy programme. The repackaging of subsidised rice into unmarked sacks for resale at higher prices causes losses to both consumers and the state.
The SPHP rice programme, which has been extended until the end of February 2026, aims to provide rice at prices below the Highest Retail Price (HET), ensuring affordability for the public. Bapanas stressed that the task force will continue to monitor and take firm action against any parties found to be manipulating the distribution of subsidised food commodities.