Smuggler of 1.7 Tons of Crude Oil from NTT Threatened with 6 Years in Prison

KUPANG - The West Manggarai Police Water and Air Police Unit (Sat Polairud), NTT, stated that the perpetrators of smuggling 1,749 liters or about 1.7 tons of subsidized kerosene to Bima, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) were threatened with a maximum prison sentence of six years.

Head of Operational Training Affairs (KBO) of the West Manggarai Police Sat Polairud IPDA Henro Manurung said the perpetrators were charged with Article 55 of Law Number 22 of 2001 concerning Oil and Gas as amended by Article 40 paragraph 9 of Law Number 6 of 2023 concerning Employment Creation.

"The abuse of subsidized transportation and/or trading of subsidized fuel is threatened with imprisonment for a maximum of six years and a fine of up to Rp. 60 billion," he said, quoted by ANTARA, Tuesday, March 17.

In this case, the police secured 1,749 liters of kerosene packaged in mineral water plastic bottles and hidden in dozens of cardboard boxes, as well as three trucks as transport vehicles.

Two suspected perpetrators with initials HA (23) and FY (66) have been secured for further examination, while another person with the initials SI (35) is still being pursued.

Police suspect that the perpetrators bought subsidized kerosene in the Lembor area at a price of around Rp5,000 per liter to then be sold in Bima at a price of up to Rp13,000 per liter.

The police confirmed that they would take firm action against the misuse of subsidized fuel distribution to ensure that it remains targeted for the community.

Previously, the West Manggarai Police Polairud thwarted the smuggling of 1,749 liters or about 1.7 tons of subsidized kerosene that were to be sent to Bima, West Nusa Tenggara.

The disclosure of the case was carried out in an operation at the ASDP Kampung Ujung Ferry Port, Saturday (14/3).

"The modus operandi of the perpetrators is to move the cargo between trucks outside the port area to avoid surveillance," he said.

From the results of the development, officers found two trucks carrying 23 boxes containing thousands of kerosene bottles.

The police secured two suspected perpetrators with the initials HA (23) and FY (66), while another person with the initials SI (35) is still being pursued.

In addition, evidence in the form of 1,749 liters of kerosene and three trucks used as means of transportation was secured.