Police Expose Network Selling Expired Imported Lamb Meat Despite Knowledge of Spoilage
The Criminal Investigation Division (Bareskrim Polri) has exposed a practice involving the trafficking of expired imported lamb meat ahead of Eid 2026. Police reported that some of the expired frozen meat had already been sold at Kebayoran Lama Market in South Jakarta.
Kombes Setyo K. Heriyatno, Head of Section I of the Directorate of Specific Criminal Acts (Dittipidter) at Bareskrim Polri, explained that the perpetrator, identified as SS, purchased imported lamb meat through intermediaries before reselling it at the market. The meat was sourced from an import meat trading network that stored old stock until it exceeded its expiration date.
“The individual SS acted as a buyer of expired imported lamb meat belonging to suspect IY, facilitated by intermediaries AR and T,” Setyo stated during a press conference in Cikupa, Tangerang, Banten, on Monday, 16 March 2026.
SS purchased approximately 1.4 tonnes and 1.6 tonnes of frozen lamb meat that had already exceeded its expiration date at prices ranging from Rp 50,000 to Rp 80,000 per kilogramme. The total payment for the two purchases reached approximately Rp 200 million, transferred through intermediaries.
Despite knowing the meat was expired, SS continued to resell it to traders and consumers at Kebayoran Lama Market to generate profit.
“Although the suspect knew that the imported lamb meat was expired, they proceeded to sell it to several people at Kebayoran Lama Market in Jakarta in order to obtain profit,” Setyo explained.
“The suspect sold approximately 100 kilogrammes of the lamb meat at prices between Rp 81,000 and Rp 85,000 per kilogramme,” he added.
From preliminary investigation findings, police discovered that approximately 100 kilogrammes of expired meat had been sold at the market before the practice was exposed. However, Setyo did not disclose where the remaining expired meat had been sold.
The case came to light after the Mobile Crime Task Force (Satresmob) of Bareskrim Polri received reports from the public regarding the circulation of expired imported meat ahead of Ramadan and Eid 2026, when meat demand typically increases.
During the investigation, police also secured three trucks containing approximately 9 tonnes of expired imported lamb meat that were scheduled for distribution to the Tangerang region. Additionally, police confiscated additional meat stocks from two warehouses in the Batuceper and Cikupa areas of Tangerang.
The total evidence secured reached approximately 12.9 tonnes of expired imported lamb meat.
Laboratory test results showed the meat was unfit for consumption. Organoleptic examination revealed abnormal meat colour, a musty and rancid odour, and acidity levels exceeding normal limits due to prolonged storage.
In this case, Bareskrim Polri has named four suspects:
IY – as the seller
T – as an intermediary or broker
AR – as an intermediary or broker
SS – as the buyer who subsequently resold the meat
As a result of their actions, the suspects face charges under Article 8 paragraph (3) in conjunction with Article 62 paragraph (1) of Law No. 8 of 1999 on Consumer Protection, as well as several provisions in Law No. 18 of 2012 on Food and Law No. 7 of 2014 on Trade. They face maximum sentences of five years imprisonment or fines of up to Rp 2 billion.