Police Uncover Smuggling of 23 Tonnes of Onions and Chillies in West Kalimantan, Originating from Thailand and China
The Directorate of Special Economic Crimes (Dittipideksus) of the National Police Criminal Investigation Agency has uncovered a suspected smuggling case involving food commodities such as onions and dried chillies, totalling 23.146 tonnes, in the city of Pontianak, West Kalimantan.
This revelation is a follow-up to President Prabowo Subianto’s directive to the National Police Chief to strengthen law enforcement against criminal acts that harm state finances, including smuggling practices.
“The case was uncovered on Monday, 13 April 2026, as part of the follow-up to the directive from the President of the Republic of Indonesia to the National Police Chief to carry out firm law enforcement against criminal acts that harm state finances, including smuggling,” said the Director of Special Economic Crimes of the National Police Criminal Investigation Agency, Brigadier General Ade Safri Simanjuntak, in his statement on Saturday (18/4/2026).
The two locations are at Jalan Budi Karya No. 5, Pontianak Selatan, and Jalan Budi Karya Kompleks Pontianak Square No. C-6, Kelurahan Benuamelayu Darat, Kecamatan Pontianak Selatan.
“Total illegal imported food commodities found amounted to 23.146 kilograms or 23.146 tonnes,” Ade explained.
Meanwhile, at the second location, commodities including shallots, garlic, red bulb onions of the berry type, dried chillies, and yellow bulb onions were found, totalling 12.796 tonnes.
Overall, the seized evidence includes 118 sacks of shallots weighing 2,124 kilograms, 457 sacks of garlic weighing 9,140 kilograms, 399 sacks of yellow bulb onions weighing 7,980 kilograms, 188 sacks of red berry bulb onions weighing 1,692 kilograms, and 221 sacks of dried chillies totalling 2,210 kilograms.
Based on clarifications from the shop and warehouse owners, the commodities are known to originate from several countries, namely Thailand, China, the Netherlands, and India.
“The smuggling or illegal import of these food commodities is suspected to have entered Indonesian territory, particularly West Kalimantan Province, via Malaysia,” said Ade Safri.
At least three additional locations are under surveillance.
As part of the legal process, officers have set up police lines at the two locations and coordinated with Perum Bulog Pontianak for the safekeeping of evidence.
Ade Safri emphasised that the formation of the Smuggling Law Enforcement Task Force (Gakkum) represents the National Police’s commitment to supporting the government’s programme to eradicate illegal practices that harm the state and disrupt national economic resilience.
“The National Police’s commitment is to carry out firm law enforcement against all forms of smuggling crimes to safeguard state assets, recover state financial losses, and prevent revenue leakages,” he stated.