Police Uncover Distribution of 12.9 Tonnes of Expired Imported Lamb Meat in Tangerang
JAKARTA — The Indonesian National Police’s Criminal Investigation Unit (Bareskrim Polri) has dismantled an operation distributing 12.9 tonnes of expired imported lamb meat in Tangerang Regency.
Senior Mobile Operations Chief of Bareskrim Polri, Senior Commissioner Teuku Arsya Khadafi, stated that the case originated from public reports concerning plans to sell expired Australian lamb carcass imports. “Given the increased meat demand ahead of Eid al-Fitr celebrations, this information was treated as a serious matter,” he said on Monday (16 March 2026).
Following this information, the Mobile Operations Team of Bareskrim Polri conducted surveillance of the meat distribution network. Investigators subsequently expanded the investigation by securing two storage warehouses in Batuceper, Tangerang City, and Cikupa, Tangerang Regency.
“From both locations, additional evidence was discovered in the form of imported lamb meat that had passed its expiry date,” he explained.
After the initial investigation, the case was escalated to the prosecution phase by the Subdirectorate I of the Directorate of Certain Criminal Acts (Dittipidter) of Bareskrim Polri.
Deputy Chief of Dittipidter Bareskrim Polri, Senior Commissioner Setyo K. Heriyatno, stated that investigators examined ten witnesses during the investigation.
“Officers seized imported lamb meat from Australia that had expired, with a total weight reaching 12,913.04 kilogrammes or approximately 12.9 tonnes found in three trucks and two storage warehouses in the Tangerang area,” Setyo stated.
Witness examinations, expert statements, and laboratory testing of meat samples by the Centre for Animal Product Quality Testing and Certification revealed that the meat was unfit for consumption.
According to Setyo, the meat’s colour was abnormal, it emitted a musty and rancid odour, and had acidity levels exceeding safe limits. “In this condition, the meat was deemed unsuitable for distribution or consumption by the public,” he said.
Investigators suspect the suspects had been trading expired imported meat since April 2024, capitalising on increased food demand ahead of major celebrations. “The suspects obtained the meat from 2022. Some had been sold, but the remaining expired stock was subsequently resold to traders at prices ranging from Rp50,000 to Rp80,000 per kilogramme,” Setyo stated.
The suspects face charges under Article 8 paragraph (3) in conjunction with Article 62 paragraph (1) of Law Number 8 of 1999 on Consumer Protection, as well as various provisions in Law Number 18 of 2012 on Food and Law Number 7 of 2014 on Trade.
They face maximum sentences of five years imprisonment or fines up to Rp2 billion.