East Java rice businessman arrested for illegal blending

Sidoarjo, E Java (ANTARA) - The East Java police have arrested a businessman from the Sumber Pangan Group (SPG) brand for allegedly producing and selling adulterated premium-grade rice through illegal blending practices.

The suspect, identified only by the initials MLH, was apprehended during a police crackdown on July 29, East Java Police Chief Inspector General Nanang Avianto told reporters in Sidoarjo District on Monday.

During the raid on the suspect’s rice mill in Sidoarjo, the police seized 12.5 tons of adulterated rice, packed in 25-kilogram and five-kilogram sacks.

Officers also confiscated brown rice, rice scales, and an operational vehicle as physical evidence, Avianto said.

In his operation, MLH blended one kilogram of premium-grade rice with 10 kilograms of medium-grade rice. The mill reportedly produced up to 12–14 tons of this mixture daily.

Investigators discovered that the suspect had been blending rice illegally for over two years, despite lacking the expertise to produce authentic premium-grade rice.

MLH marketed the adulterated rice under the SPG brand, falsely labeling it with the National Indonesian Standards (SNI) and halal logos. The rice was distributed in Sidoarjo and Pasuruan districts in East Java.

The counterfeit rice was sold at the price ceiling of Rp14,900 per kilogram. Avianto emphasized that both the SNI and halal labels used on the packaging were unauthorized.

The East Java police are continuing to investigate the case and have charged MLH with violations of Consumer Protection Law No. 8 of 1999, Food Law No. 18 of 2012, and Standardization and Conformity Assessment Law No. 20 of 2014.

"We urge the public to exercise caution when purchasing rice and warn businesses not to manipulate quality standards," Avianto stated.

In response to the broader rice adulteration scandal, President Prabowo Subianto recently instructed law enforcement agencies to take firm action against individuals and companies violating rice quality standards for premium and medium-grade products.