Dismantling Mafia, Buwas: Bulog Rice Making Market Operations It Was Even Smuggled Into Timor Leste

JAKARTA - The President Director of Perum Bulog, Budi Waseso, revealed the alleged imported Bulog rice that would be smuggled into Timor Leste.

Even though the rice was imported to Indonesia to stabilize supply and food prices (SPHP) or market operations.

Buwas, Budi Waseso's nickname, explained that this allegation arose after he carried out a surprise inspection of the Cipinang Rice Main Market some time ago.

Even the rice from Cipinang can go all the way to Atambua (East Nusa Tenggara) today. And it is sold at a very expensive price. There are indications that this rice will be smuggled into Timor Leste," he said during a press conference at the Banten Police, West Java, Friday, February 10.

For your information, Atambua is on the east side of East Nusa Tenggara (NTT). This sub-district in Belu Regency, NTT is one of the regions in Indonesia that is directly adjacent to Timor Leste.

In fact, the distance is only 22 kilometers to enter the Mota'ain area, Timor Leste by land.

According to Buwas, the existence of this alleged smuggling made the government's efforts to stabilize rice prices in vain.

Moreover, he said, these individuals set an expensive price to take personal advantage.

"This means that this country is trying to meet the needs of its people, but there are people who take advantage of it. The entrepreneurs who do this will actually ( bring Bulog rice) removed from Indonesia," he said.

However, Buwas admitted that he was sure that the existence of the rice mafia would be investigated to the roots by law enforcement, in this case the National Police's Food Task Force.

"So this will be taken care of by the police, of course I believe it will be managed by the police to where the source comes from. Where the start of the violation will definitely be investigated," he said.

Buwas said the National Police's Food Task Force would not stand still. The supervision of Bulog's market operations will continue to be developed throughout Indonesia.

"Because I brought in imported rice, I dropped it at 12 provincial points that needed this rice. If it is not monitored, then this rice will disappear. It is lost in the sense that the word will not affect the problem of lowering prices," he said.

Banten Police Join 7 Suspects of Logistics and Spatial Planning Agency (Bulog)

As previously reported, Buwas said that his suspicion that there was a rice mafia was proven by the determination of seven suspects in the alleged mixing and repackaging of Bulog rice by the Banten Regional Police Food Task Force.

The Banten Police managed to secure seven suspects who mixed rice.

All of them are perpetrators who mixed Bulog imported rice used for the stabilization of Supply and Food Prices (SPHP) or market operations.

The seven suspects are HS (36); TL (39); AN (58); BA (31); FA (42); HA (66) and ID (30). They come from Lebak, Serang, Cilegon, and Pandeglang.

The evidence confiscated was 350 tons of Bulog rice from repackaging. Then, six digital scales, 8,000 former Bulog sacks, and seven sack sewing machines, 10,000 premium rice sacks from the Rojoele brand, SP, to Dewi Sri.

Then, the evidence in the form of 50 bundles of transaction files is also secured. The file consists of a memorandum of sale, travel documents, and DO.

For his actions, the perpetrator is subject to Article 62 of Law Number 8 of 1999 concerning Consumer Protection and Article 382 of the Criminal Code. The perpetrator is threatened with 5 years imprisonment or a fine of IDR 2 billion.