Smuggler of 1.7 tonnes of kerosene from East Nusa Tenggara faces six-year prison sentence
The Maritime and Air Police Unit (Sat Polairud) of Manggarai Barat Police Department in East Nusa Tenggara has stated that perpetrators involved in smuggling 1,749 litres, or approximately 1.7 tonnes, of subsidised kerosene to Bima, West Nusa Tenggara, face a maximum prison sentence of six years.
The Head of Operational Development Affairs (KBO) of Sat Polairud Manggarai Barat Police Department, IPDA Henro Manurung, said when contacted from Kupang on Wednesday that the perpetrators are charged under Article 55 of Law Number 22 of 2001 concerning Oil and Natural Gas, as amended through Article 40 point 9 of Law Number 6 of 2023 on Job Creation.
“Misuse of transport and/or trade of subsidised fuel is threatened with a prison sentence of up to six years and a maximum fine of 60 billion rupiah,” he stated.
In this case, police secured 1,749 litres of kerosene packaged in mineral water bottles and hidden in dozens of cardboard boxes, as well as three truck units used for transport.
Two suspects with the initials HA (23) and FY (66) have been apprehended for further investigation, whilst a third suspect with the initials SI (35) remains at large.
Police suspect the perpetrators purchased subsidised kerosene in the Lembor area at approximately 5,000 rupiah per litre, intending to resell it in Bima at prices reaching 13,000 rupiah per litre.
The police force emphasised that it will take firm action against the misuse of subsidised fuel distribution to ensure its availability reaches the intended target population.
The Manggarai Barat Maritime and Air Police Unit previously thwarted the smuggling attempt of 1,749 litres of subsidised kerosene destined for Bima during an operation at the ASDP Ferry Port at Kampung Ujung on Saturday, 14 March.
The perpetrators’ modus operandi involved transferring cargo between trucks outside the port area to avoid surveillance. During the investigation, officers discovered two trucks carrying 23 boxes containing thousands of bottles of kerosene.
Police apprehended two suspects with the initials HA (23) and FY (66), whilst a third suspect with the initials SI (35) remains at large. Evidence secured includes 1,749 litres of kerosene and three truck units used as transport vehicles.