Police Uncover Illegal 3kg LPG Subsidy Misuse Operation in Banyumas, Hundreds of Cylinders Seized

The Criminal Investigation Unit (Satreskrim) of Banyumas Police has uncovered a case of subsidised LPG misuse involving the transfer of contents from 3kg cylinders into 5.5kg and 12kg Bright Gas cylinders. The illegal practice, which had been ongoing for approximately six months, reportedly generated profits of between Rp10 million and Rp12 million per month. Banyumas Police Chief Commissioner Petrus P Silalahi stated that the suspect, identified as ACY, 38, a resident of Mersi, East Purwokerto, was arrested at his home, which also served as a Public Service Obligation (PSO) LPG distribution base, on Thursday, 16 July. The suspect transferred the contents of subsidised 3kg LPG cylinders into non-subsidised 12kg and 5.5kg cylinders and then resold them for personal gain. Investigations revealed that ACY had been the daily manager of the PSO LPG base since February 2024. The gas transfer operation was conducted without the knowledge of the agent or the base owner, who is a relative of the suspect. According to Petrus, the suspect learned the gas transfer technique autodidactically through social media videos in January 2026. With initial capital of around Rp2 million, he purchased empty 12kg and 5.5kg cylinders and assembled his own iron gas transfer device. To obtain additional subsidised LPG cylinders beyond the base’s quota, the suspect bought 3kg cylinders from several mobile gas vendors for Rp18,000 to Rp20,000 per cylinder. The vendors were unaware that the cylinders would be used for illegal gas transfer. During the operation, the contents of the subsidised LPG cylinders were transferred into Bright Gas cylinders using the homemade device. The cylinders were then cooled with ice cubes, weighed to meet standard weight requirements, and fitted with counterfeit plastic seals to resemble genuine products. The Police Chief stated that in a single process, the suspect could transfer the contents of 40 to 60 subsidised LPG cylinders into approximately 10 to 15 12kg Bright Gas cylinders. The tampered cylinders were sold for Rp210,000 for the 12kg size and Rp110,000 for the 5.5kg size. From each cylinder sold, the suspect made a profit of around Rp130,000 for the 12kg size and Rp70,000 for the 5.5kg size. The profits were used to meet daily needs and renovate his house. During the operation, police seized hundreds of LPG cylinders of various sizes, eight homemade gas injection devices, thousands of counterfeit plastic seals, a digital scale, Rp3.43 million in cash suspected to be sales proceeds, and a mobile phone used for transactions. The suspect is charged under Article 55 of Law Number 22 of 2001 concerning Oil and Natural Gas, as amended by Law Number 6 of 2023 concerning Job Creation, which carries a maximum prison sentence of six years and a maximum fine of Rp60 billion. The Sales Area Manager of Pertamina Patra Niaga for Central Java, Aris Irmi, commended the Banyumas Police for uncovering the case. He stated that the misuse of subsidised LPG not only harms the state and disrupts distribution to entitled communities but also endangers safety because the gas transfer process uses non-standard equipment. He urged the public to purchase subsidised LPG only at official distribution bases to ensure the price complies with the Highest Retail Price (HET) of Rp18,000 per cylinder. For Bright Gas, consumers are also asked to verify product authenticity via the QR Code on the cylinder and to immediately report suspected misuse through the Pertamina Call Centre 135 or to law enforcement officials.