Riau Provincial Police Bust Subsidised Diesel Mafia, Four Suspects Arrested
The Riau Provincial Police have uncovered the misuse of subsidised fuel oil (BBM) in the form of Bio Solar in Pelalawan Regency and Indragiri Hilir (Inhil). In this operation, police arrested one suspect.
The Director of Criminal Investigation at Riau Provincial Police, Commissioner Ade Kuncoro, stated that this disclosure is part of the Riau Provincial Police’s commitment to safeguarding the distribution of subsidised energy so that it reaches the intended targets and is not misused by parties seeking personal gain.
“This is a demonstration of our seriousness in cracking down firmly on the misuse of subsidised BBM. Subsidised BBM is the right of the community, especially groups in need, so it must not be diverted for illegal business interests,” said Commissioner Ade in his statement on Sunday (5/4/2026).
The disclosure began at a workshop on Jalan Lingkar, Kerinci Timur Ward, Pangkalan Kerinci Subdistrict, Pelalawan Regency, on Sunday (5/4) morning. At the location, police found approximately 5,000 litres of Bio Solar fuel stored in 21 jerrycans of 33-litre capacity and several 1,000-litre baby tanks.
“At this location, we secured the main suspect with initials ANM, who acted as the buyer, collector, and seller of the illegal BBM,” he added.
Subsequently, police also uncovered the misuse of subsidised BBM in Rotan Semelur Village, Pelangiran Subdistrict, Indragiri Hilir Regency. In this operation, the team found the wooden vessel KM Surya transporting Bio Solar fuel without official documents.
Police also secured Bio Solar fuel from a petrol station in the Concong area, Indragiri Hilir Regency. The BBM, intended for fishermen in the Concong area, was diverted by rogue petrol station employees and traded illegally via waterways.
In the Concong area disclosure, officers found 21 drums containing Bio Solar fuel totalling around 5,000 litres on the vessel, plus additional fuel on another pontoon, bringing the total to more than 10,000 litres.
Police then arrested three suspects: the vessel owner, the captain, and a crew member involved in transporting the illegal BBM.
Commissioner Ade added that both cases demonstrate the persistence of subsidised BBM misuse through various methods, both over land and water routes, including deviations in distribution from the fishing sector, which should be protected.
“We found misuse of BBM distribution from fishermen’s petrol stations. We deeply regret this, as the BBM is intended to support fishermen’s economic activities, not to be resold illegally,” he stressed.
He added that his side would continue to investigate to uncover possible wider networks, including parties involved in the distribution chain from upstream to downstream.
Meanwhile, Deputy Head of Subdirectorate IV of Economic Crimes at the Criminal Investigation Directorate of Riau Provincial Police, AKBP Teddy Ardian, explained that this practice had been ongoing for approximately two months with a fairly organised distribution pattern.
“The BBM was purchased from brokers at around Rp280,000 per 33-litre jerrycan, then resold for between Rp290,000 and Rp300,000. The profit per jerrycan may seem small, but when accumulated in large quantities, it is significant,” Teddy explained.
He also revealed that the suspects used various methods, including vehicles with multiple different number plates to circumvent the barcode system when refuelling at petrol stations.
Additionally, the suspects targeted markets in remote areas, including the needs of timber transport trucks that cannot refuel at petrol stations, thus creating their own market for illegal BBM.
For their actions, the suspects are charged under Article 55 of Law No. 22 of 2001 on Oil and Earth Gas as amended by Law No. 6 of 2023 on Job Creation, with a maximum penalty of six years’ imprisonment and a fine of Rp60 billion.