JAKARTA - It seems that we must always be careful when buying something. Not only when buying gadgets online or buying real jewelry, but also when you want to buy groceries because of the rampant fraud that occurs.
On Monday, 11 May, Bandung Police arrested four perpetrators of fake beef trafficking in the Bandung Regency area. Reportedly, there are still several other people who are being hunted.
This fraudulent act was pioneered by brothers with the initials T (54) and P (46). According to the Bandung Police, they were migrants from Solo, Central Java. The two of them have rented a house for about a year in Banjaran, West Java to run their business. However, based on the identity given, P is domiciled in Banjaran and T is domiciled in Sukabumi.
Initially they ordered pork from a supplier from Solo. They know very well that the supplier they contact is a pork slaughterhouse. Every week, T and P receive up to 600 kilograms of pork at a price of Rp45,000 per kilogram.
Then the meat is processed using borax and allowed to stand for one night so that the texture and appearance resembles beef. The fake beef is sold to the dealers at a price of IDR 60,000 per kilogram. Not a few buyers also come directly to their homes.
From the city level, this fake beef is resold to retailers. Two retailers who have been arrested by the Bandung Police are AS (39) who sells this meat in the Baleendah area and AR (38) who sells this meat in the Majalaya area. They can sell fake beef for Rp. 85,000 to Rp. 90,000 per kilogram to the market and the public. Even though the price of real beef is around Rp110,000 to Rp130,000.
It can be estimated that P and T's profit as a collector and dealer of fake beef is around IDR 30 million per month. Therefore, it is known that the motive for this fraud is economic.
Approximately 63 tons of fake beef have been circulating in the community as a result of their actions during this year. The police also confiscated 600 kilograms of pork at the collector's freezer and another 100 kilograms at the retailer.
When viewed physically, there is a difference between pork and beef. The most noticeable difference is the color. The color of the pork is paler, while the beef is redder. That is why dangerous chemicals are used to launch this fraudulent act.
Residents are advised to be more careful and observant, and be able to report to the authorities if they find fake meat on the market. Inspections are also being carried out frequently.
Counterfeit beef dealers who have been caught are subject to Article 91 A in conjunction with Article 58 Paragraph 6 of Law Number 41 Year 2014 concerning Animal Husbandry and Animal Health, and Article 62 Paragraph 1 in conjunction with Article 8 Paragraph 1 of Law Number 8 Year 1999 concerning Consumer Protection with the threat of punishment 5 years in prison.
The Office of Agriculture, Food Security and Fisheries (Dispertan KPP) Solo City also responded to this case. There is something quite odd for them. Find out more by pressing the listen button and let us tell the story for you in the VOI podcast.
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