Expensive Soybean Prices Not Because Of Food Policy Or Hoarding, Police Task Force Finds This

JAKARTA - The National Police's Bareskrim Food Task Force has not found any criminal offenses related to rising soybean prices. However, investigations into the alleged causes of the price increase will still be carried out.

"So I say that the Food Task Force has not found any violations," said Head of Public Relations of the National Police, Kombes Ahmad Ramadhan, to reporters, Wednesday, January 6.

The team from the food task force went directly to the soybean storage warehouses. Provisional investigation results from the increase in soybean prices due to delays in the arrival of supplies.

"Maybe there is suspicion from the public or there is a hoarding of all kinds, so it must be understood by the general public that the increase was due to the delay in ships carrying imported soybeans," he explained.

Previously, the Head of Criminal Investigation of the National Police, Komjen Listyo Sigit, together with the Head of the National Police's Food Task Force, Brigadier General Helmy Santika, stated that the investigation was carried out by the National Police's Food Task Force team in a number of regions in Indonesia and had carried out inspections at a number of warehouse importers and distributors of soybeans in Cikupa, Cengkareng and Bekasi areas.

"The task force has also instructed the regional task force in each Polda to check prices, soybean availability and processing centers, especially MSMEs that produce tempeh and tofu," said Komjen Listyo Sigit.

The increase in soybean prices in early 2021 caused a number of tofu and tempe craftsmen to go on strike for three days. The supply of tofu and tempeh disappeared from the market during January 1 to 3.

The increase in the price of soybeans in the range of Rp. 9,000 from the original Rp. 7,000 per kilogram is considered a burden to entrepreneurs.

Meanwhile, Brigadier General Helmy Santika said the National Police had data and analysis of soybean availability and demand nationally.

"We have coordinated with the Ministry of Trade, the Ministry of Agriculture and a number of other parties to investigate the alleged hoarding and the soaring game of soybean prices since the last few days," said Helmy.

In addition, Helmy also mentioned that global developments during the COVID-19 pandemic also affected soybean prices on world markets.

"Based on FAO data, in December 2020 there was an increase in the price of soybeans on the global market by 6 percent from the initial price of 435 US dollars to 461 US dollars per ton," said Helmy.