Police Uncover Subsidised Rice Blending and Repackaging Operation
Mataram (ANTARA) – The West Nusa Tenggara Regional Police have uncovered the blending and repackaging of subsidised rice from Bulog’s Food Supply and Price Stabilisation (SPHP) programme. The rice, supplied in five-kilogram packs, was transferred into plain 25- and 50-kilogram sacks for resale.
West Nusa Tenggara Police public relations chief Commissioner Mohammad Kholid said the case came to light following an investigation by Sub-directorate I of the police’s Special Criminal Investigation Directorate, which handles industry, trade and investment.
“Investigations revealed activities indicating the misuse of subsidised Bulog SPHP rice in five-kilogram packs,” he said.
The alleged activity took place in two areas: West Lombok Regency and Central Lombok Regency. “There are two cases, with almost similar methods,” he said.
The first case involved a rice-mill operator identified by the initials HM in Babussalam village, Gerung sub-district, West Lombok. HM, who has been named a suspect, bought 400 five-kilogram packs of Bulog SPHP rice—equivalent to two tonnes—from Gerung Market. He paid Rp60,000 per pack, or Rp12,000 per kilogram.
HM then opened the subsidised rice packs and mixed the rice with rice from his mill. The resulting blend was repackaged in plain 50-kilogram sacks and sold to traders or rice distributors.
The repackaged rice was sold for Rp650,000 per sack, or Rp13,000 per kilogram. The alleged operation, which investigators believe began in early June 2026, earned HM Rp1,000 per kilogram sold.
In the second case, police arrested a man identified as Z in Ungga village, Praya Barat Daya sub-district, Central Lombok.
Like HM, Z runs a rice mill. He bought 300 five-kilogram packs of Bulog SPHP rice, equivalent to 1.5 tonnes, from an SPHP rice distributor in Ungga. The purchase price was Rp60,000 per pack, or Rp12,000 per kilogram.
Z opened the subsidised rice packs and repackaged the rice in plain 25-kilogram sacks for sale in Bali.
The repackaged rice sold for Rp312,500 per sack, or Rp12,500 per kilogram, giving Z a profit of Rp500 per kilogram.
Investigators believe Z carried out the activity four times from early August 2026.
In the West Lombok case, investigators seized 440 five-kilogram sacks of Bulog SPHP rice, 396 opened SPHP wrappers, 165 white sacks labelled UD Sri Ayu, and 99 50-kilogram rice sacks bearing the same label. Police also seized digital scales and a sack-sewing machine.
Evidence seized in Central Lombok included 51 sacks of Bulog SPHP rice repackaged in plain 25-kilogram sacks, 45 five-kilogram packs of Bulog SPHP rice, 200 plain 25-kilogram sacks, and 1,600 used wrappers from five-kilogram SPHP packs. Other evidence included digital scales, a sack-sewing machine and scissors.