Mafia Smugglers of Fuel and Subsidized LPG Target Geopolitical Gap, the National Police Tightens Supervision

JAKARTA - The practice of smuggling subsidized fuel and LPG is now a serious threat to national economic stability amid global energy price turmoil. Geopolitical pressure due to conflicts in the Middle East has widened the disparity between market prices and subsidies, which has triggered increased economic incentives for mafia smuggling networks to act across borders.

President Prabowo Subianto has given firm instructions to the National Police Chief, TNI Commander, Head of BIN, and the Minister of Finance to synergize to close the gap in the leakage of state revenues. This operational order demands a quick response because every leakage of subsidies in the midst of rising world oil prices has a direct impact on the swelling of the State Budget (APBN).

Senior legal and political observer, Boni Hargens, assessed that this government's move is very crucial considering the complexity of the distribution network which often involves individuals at various levels. He emphasized that the National Police, with its criminal intelligence capacity, is the front line in executing this national agenda with full integrity to save state funds.

"Institutional loyalty is not merely formal compliance, but the ability to execute the national agenda with full integrity and effectiveness," said Boni, quoted from ANTARA, Tuesday, April 14, 2026.

Data from the Directorate of Certain Economic Criminal Cases of the Criminal Investigation Unit of the National Police shows how massive the challenges in the field are. Throughout 2025 to early 2026, the police have uncovered 665 cases of misuse of subsidized fuel and LPG in 33 provinces, ranging from Aceh to Papua. From hundreds of cases, as many as 583 suspects have been secured.

The Director of Criminal Investigation of the Criminal Investigation Unit of the National Police, Brigadier General of Police Moh Irhamni, in a recent press conference revealed that the potential loss of state finances that had been successfully identified from all cases reached Rp. 1.26 trillion. This disclosure success is proof that strict supervision in the illegal distribution channel is very important for the economic resilience of the Indonesian people in times of energy crisis.