South Kalimantan Police Uncover Rp12.4 Billion State Loss from Illegal Fuel and LPG
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Banjarbaru (ANTARA) - The South Kalimantan Regional Police (Polda Kalsel) have successfully uncovered approximately Rp12.4 billion in state losses caused by the misuse of subsidised fuel (BBM) and LPG, namely illegal energy distribution practices.
“This state loss is calculated from the amount of evidence seized, both BBM and LPG gas,” said the South Kalimantan Police Chief, Inspector General of Police Dr Rosyanto Yudha Hermawan, during the release of the results of the Special Task Force (Satgasus) for Combating the Misuse of Subsidised BBM and LPG in Banjarbaru on Monday.
Over a period of 25 days from 6 April to 4 May 2026, the Directorate of Special Criminal Investigation of Polda Kalsel, together with 13 police resorts under its jurisdiction that are part of the Satgasus, arrested 33 suspects from 28 crime scenes (TKP).
Yudha revealed that the modus operandi of the illegal BBM perpetrators involves siphoning fuel at petrol stations (SPBU) to resell it at higher prices.
Meanwhile, for LPG, there are bases selling above the highest retail price (HET), as well as a new modus uncovered by the Criminal Investigation Unit of Banjarmasin Police Resort, which involves transferring subsidised gas contents into portable gas cans.
“So, one 3 kg cylinder produces 10 portable gas cans with a selling price of up to Rp15,000 per can, and sales are also conducted online,” explained the Police Chief.
Yudha emphasised that the uncovering does not only target field perpetrators but his side continues to trace organised illegal distribution networks.
These efforts involve strengthening synergy and collaboration with relevant parties such as Pertamina, SKK Migas, BPH Migas, Patra Niaga, including the public.
It was stated that this is a form of the Indonesian National Police’s commitment to maintaining national energy sovereignty and ensuring that subsidies provided by the state are truly enjoyed by entitled communities, as instructed by the National Police Chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo.
Meanwhile, the Director of Special Criminal Investigation of Polda Kalsel, Senior Commissioner of Police M Gafur Aditya Siregar, explained that the articles applied to the suspects are first Article 55 of Law No. 22 of 2001 on Oil and Natural Gas as amended in Article 40 Paragraph 9 of Law No. 6 of 2023 on the Enactment of Government Regulation in Lieu of Law No. 2 of 2022 on Job Creation into Law, with a maximum penalty of six years imprisonment and a fine of up to Rp60 billion.
The police also charged the suspects with violations of Law No. 8 of 1999 on Consumer Protection, with a maximum penalty of five years imprisonment and a fine of up to Rp2 billion.
Representatives from PT Pertamina Patra Niaga Regional Kalimantan, South Kalimantan Sales Area Wicaksono Ardi Nugraha and Syaiful Awal, were also present and appreciated the law enforcement actions by Polda Kalsel.
Wicaksono stated that Pertamina continues to improve the fuel distribution monitoring system at SPBU.
Meanwhile, Syaiful Awal affirmed that any LPG agents or bases proven to commit fraud will have their permits revoked.