Police uncover circulation of imported red onions not in compliance with standards
Malang, East Java (ANTARA) – The Malang City Police Resort (Polresta Malang Kota) has uncovered a case of circulation of imported red onions that do not meet government standards as set out by the Minister of Agriculture RI Decree No. 105/Kpts/SR.130/D/12/2017.
The head of Malang City Police, Kombes Pol Putu Kholis Aryana, said in Malang on Saturday that the onions had been checked by making a horizontal cut, and that the bulb diameter was below five centimetres.
Under Minister of Agriculture RI Decree No. 105/Kpts/SR.130/D/12/2017, imported red onions must have a bulb diameter of at least five centimetres.
The non-compliance was found in 700 sacks of red onions. The finding was followed by a case deliberation in the investigation of a crime of distributing imported horticultural products that do not meet regulatory provisions.
Putu explained that the operation began with Police Report No. LP/A/12/XI/2025/SPKT SATRESKRIM/POLRESTA MALANG KOTA/POLDA JAWA TIMUR. The report states that a warehouse on Jalan Rajasa stored imported red onions before distribution to several areas.
Because there were indications of hortikultural violations, Polresta Malang Kota began checks on the activity of distributing imported red onions at the warehouse on Saturday (8 November).
“Checks around 17:30 WIB in front of the warehouse belonging to Abdul Holek and Yulia Riska on Jalan Rajasa. The warehouse is known to have received supplies of imported red onions from a supplier named BS (46),” he said.
Putu said the distribution of onions used a container truck with licence plate L 8334 UE, which was then moved to another truck with plate S 8117 NK and would deliver orders to buyers in the Mojokerto region.
The police have named BS, a resident of Brebes Regency, Central Java, as a suspect in the case of circulating imported red onions not in accordance with government regulations. From the suspect, police seized various import documents, including a risk-based business license (NIB), the import approval for horticultural products, international sales contracts, quarantine documents, and shipping documents from India.
BS is charged under Article 128 in conjunction with Article 88(1)(a), (c), and (d) of Law No. 13 of 2010 on Horticulture, as amended by Law No. 6 of 2023 on the Job Creation Act, and Article 62(1) in conjunction with Article 8(1)(a) of Law No. 8 of 1999 on Consumer Protection. He faces a maximum penalty of two years imprisonment or a fine of up to Rp2 billion.