East Java Police Uncovers Fake SPHP Rice in Probolinggo, with a Turnover of Tens of Millions

Police show evidence of fake SPHP rice in Probolinggo when releasing the case at the East Java Police Headquarters, Surabaya, Wednesday, April 15, 2026. (ANTARA/Willi Irawan)

SURABAYA - The Special Criminal Investigation Directorate (Ditreskrimsus) of the East Java Police has dismantled the practice of circulating fake rice for the Food Supply and Price Stabilization (SPHP) program in Probolinggo Regency. In the disclosure, the police confiscated 400 bags of rice in five-kilogram packaging.

Deputy Director of the Criminal Investigation Unit of the East Java Police, AKBP Henri Noveri Santoso, said that this case was part of the prosecution of criminal offenses in the field of food and consumer protection.

"This case is the packaging of plain rice into SPHP packaging labeled 5 kilograms, but in fact the gross weight including packaging is only 4.9 kilograms," he said in Surabaya, Antara, Wednesday, April 15.

This matter was revealed from a location in Krajan Village, Kalirejo Village, Probolinggo Regency, on April 6. The police arrested one suspect with the initials RMF who was suspected of being the main perpetrator.

Head of Subdirectorate I Industry and Trade of the East Java Police's Criminal Investigation Directorate, AKBP Farris Nur Sanjaya explained, the modus operandi of the suspect was to buy low-quality bulk rice from a number of stores, then repack it using SPHP rice sacks.

"The rice used is far below the medium standard in terms of quality. Visually, the breakage rate reaches around 80 percent, even though the standard for medium rice is a maximum of 25 percent," he said.

In addition to the quality that is not appropriate, the contents of the rice in the package are also reduced from 5 kilograms to around 4.9 kilograms. From this practice, the perpetrators are suspected of reaping a profit of around Rp3,000 per package.

According to Farris, the illegal business has been carried out for approximately two years. Sales are made based on customer orders through an online system.

"In one week, the perpetrator can process about 2 tons of rice or the equivalent of 200 packages. The estimated turnover reaches tens of millions of rupiah per month," he said.

The highest demand, he continued, usually occurs before Eid al-Fitr because many customers buy rice for zakat fitrah needs.

For his actions, the suspect was charged with Article 144 of Law Number 18 of 2012 concerning Food regarding the provision of incorrect labels, as well as Article 62 of Law Number 8 of 1999 concerning Consumer Protection. The maximum penalty threat is up to five years in prison.

Meanwhile, the Regional Head of Perum Bulog East Java Regional Office Langgeng Wisnu Adinugroho emphasized that the rice in the case did not come from Bulog.

"SPHP rice is medium rice with certain standards and is only distributed through official channels. This case is a form of abuse that harms the community," he said.

He appealed to the public to be more careful when buying packaged rice and immediately report if they find indications of cheating in the market. "The original has an expiration date and a distribution permit, but the perpetrators are now very clever in making it very similar to the original," he said.