Central Java Police Arrests a Conspiracy to Distribute Subsidized Elpiji in Semarang

SEMARANG - Central Java Police has uncovered a plot to distribute subsidized LPG in the Semarang City area, Central Java with a turnover of billions of rupiah.

Director of Special Criminal Investigation of Central Java Police, Kombes Djoko Julianto, said the illegal business, which had been operating for about two months, was run by FZ (68) a resident of Semarang City, a repeat offender of a similar crime who had just been released from prison.

In addition to FZ, he said, officers also secured three other perpetrators who each played a role as a gas tube injector and a gas raw material seeker to be filled.

In the disclosure, the police also secured 2,178 LPG cylinders of various sizes.

"There are three crime scenes used to carry out the crime, namely Banyumanik and Gunungpati in Semarang City and West Ungaran in Semarang Regency," he said as quoted by ANTARA, Friday, January 23.

He explained the modus operandi carried out by this group was by buying subsidized LPG in bulk.

"These perpetrators are not agents or retailers. They buy LPG in bulk and then store it," he said.

Meanwhile, non-subsidized gas cylinders from oplosan, he said, were sold at a cheaper price and the contents did not match the measure.

The state's losses due to the illegal practices carried out by the gang are estimated to reach Rp10 billion.

The suspects were then charged with Law Number 6 of 2023 concerning Job Creation or Law Number 8 of 1999 concerning consumer protection.