South Sulawesi Police Raids 50 Tons Of Subsidized Fertilizer Hoarding Warehouse

Illustration of the misuse of subsidized fertilizers (ANTARA)

The South Sulawesi Police Resmob Unit (Sulsel), raided a warehouse for hoarding 50 tons of illegal subsidy fertilizer. During the raid, the police not only secured bulk subsidy fertilizers, also confiscated 4 trucks and detained four suspected perpetrators.

The raid was carried out at the Garuda warehouse complex, Lantebung Street, Biringkanaya District, Makassar City, South Sulawesi.

In the warehouse, the police secured approximately 50 tons of Phonska-type subsidy fertilizer in bulk and also secured four suspected perpetrators of subsidized fertilizer embezzlement syndicates. In addition, the police also secured four trucks loaded with subsidy fertilizers each resulting from embezzlement of 45 tons.

"The subsidized fertilizer syndicate network was embezzled by unscrupulous persons. Based on community reports, we found it in the Lantebung warehouse. We secured evidence of Phoska type fertilizer of approximately 50 tons," said Panit I Resmob South Sulawesi Police Iptu Sunardi, Monday, March 18.

From the raid, the police then carried out developments to the Barru and Pangkep Regencies.

Based on the results of the investigation and examination of four suspected perpetrators of embezzlement, they are known to use the urinary mode as a delivery of subsidized fertilizer to a warehouse for a private company in collaboration with PT Petrokimia.

The syndicate of the perpetrators did not deliver fertilizers to the intended warehouse but was taken to another warehouse as a location for subsidized fertilizer shelters from Makassar Port.

"So the modus operandi is that the perpetrator's job is as an introduction from PT Andika. Initially, the perpetrator took it from the port as an introduction. He took it to PT Andika's warehouse. That was his first race. Then the second race was embezzled. Pupuk was brought into the Lantebung warehouse to be dismantled there," he said.

The plan is that subsidized fertilizers in bulk form will be distributed to regions to be traded at a price of Rp. 70,000 per 50 kilograms or per sack.

"From the results of the interrogation and development of members in the field that the goods will be sold in the district," he continued.

The embezzlement of subsidized fertilizer caused private company PT Andika Celebes Transportama in collaboration with PT Petrokimia to lose around Rp. 66 million.

In order to account for their actions, the alleged perpetrators were immediately detained and threatened with being charged with Article 372 of the Criminal Code with a penalty of four years in prison.

"Until now, four people have been arrested, three people have been detained. The other is because they are minors, we have ordered them to report," he said.