Circulation of 75,992 Illegal Palm Seed Disrupted, Karding Says Barantin Saves Farmers from Huge Losses 

BANDUNG - The Indonesian Quarantine Agency (Barantin) through the Lampung Quarantine managed to thwart the circulation of 75,992 illegal palm oil seedlings that were to be sent to various regions in Indonesia.

Head of the Indonesian Quarantine Agency Abdul Kadir Karding said that 75,992 illegal palm oil seedlings were not only seen as a pile of seeds. If all of them are successfully planted, the amount is enough to fill about 500 hectares of plantation land.

The problem is, farmers only find out that the seeds are fake after spending 3-4 years taking care of them until they enter the production phase. That's when the real loss comes, the harvest is low, even the plants can not bear fruit at all.

"Based on the calculations of the Lampung Provincial Plantation Service, this condition has the potential to cause economic losses of around Rp. 3.5 billion per month or around Rp. 42 billion per year," said Karding at the destruction site, Bandar Lampung, Friday, July 31.

The disclosure is considered an important step in saving farmers and the national palm oil industry from potential economic losses estimated at Rp42 billion per year.

Karding explained that this success is a tangible form of the state's presence in protecting farmers from illegal seed trading practices that not only cause economic losses, but also threaten the health of national plantations.

"I reiterate that the state must not lose, the state must not be careless. We invite all business actors to comply with the applicable provisions. However, for anyone who deliberately violates, we will act decisively. If there is a criminal element, we will take legal action in accordance with applicable regulations," said Karding.

The disclosure of the case took place from February 11 to April 10, 2026. During that period, Lampung Quarantine officers detained as many as 170 packages containing 75,992 pieces of palm oil seedlings at the Raden Inten II Airport Cargo Terminal, Lampung.

The initial examination found a number of irregularities in the packaging and certificates in the name of the Palm Oil Research Center (PPKS). In addition, all packages are known to not be equipped with quarantine documents or other required documents in the plant seed traffic.

The results of the search showed that the seeds were marketed through various online trading platforms, such as TikTok Shop, Shopee, Tokopedia, and Lazada. Furthermore, the package was sent using the J&T Express and Lion Parcel expedition services at a price of around Rp1,300 per piece, far below the official PPKS seed price which ranges from Rp8,300 per piece. The striking price difference is one of the strong indications of the alleged illegal palm oil seed circulation.

To ensure the authenticity of the seeds, Lampung Quarantine conducted a joint investigation with the expedition service company and a number of related parties. The results of the investigation found that the sender used a false identity, the contents of the package were disguised as other goods, the delivery location was moved, and the package was delivered directly to the expedition counter to avoid tracking.

The verification carried out jointly with PT Bina Sawit Makmur, the Palm Oil Research Center (PPKS), PT Dami Mas Sejahtera, and the Lampung Province Seed Quality Monitoring and Testing Center (BP2MB) confirmed that the seeds secured were fake seeds, including all accompanying documents.

Karding emphasized that the circulation of illegal palm oil seedlings is not merely a problem of product forgery. Seedlings that do not undergo quarantine inspection have the potential to carry dangerous pests and diseases that can spread to plantation areas, reduce crop productivity, and even cause crop failure.

In the disclosure of the case, Lampung Quarantine also coordinated with the Lampung Police Intelligence Directorate to trace the perpetrators behind the circulation of illegal palm oil seeds. The results of the investigation indicate that there is a connection between sellers on the marketplace that leads to a suspected centralized network.

The joint team has bagged an estimated location of the perpetrators and until now is still conducting field verification. Meanwhile, since April 10, 2026, no illegal palm oil seedlings have been found, although the investigation process against the perpetrator network is still ongoing.

Karding emphasized that the Indonesian Quarantine Agency will continue to strengthen surveillance of media traffic carriers as part of efforts to maintain plant health and protect national agriculture from illegal seed trading practices.