Led by the Agriculture Ministry, the government has launched an investigation to discover the parties behind a 250-tonne shipment of rice illegally imported to Sabang, in breach of food import rules.

Maudey Khalisha – The Jakarta Post

JAKARTA – The government has opened a probe to trace the actors involved in the illegal entry of around 250 tonnes of rice imports from Thailand to Sabang, Aceh, including a local company, noting that the unauthorized shipment constituted a serious breach of the national food import policy under President Prabowo Subianto.

“We have sealed [the receiving warehouse], and we are requesting a full investigation into who the perpetrators are,” Agriculture Minister Amran Sulaiman said on Sunday in Jakarta.

Amran warned that any violation by government officials would result in immediate consequences, including the removal of those found to have authorized or permitted rice imports against presidential directives, which he described as paramount.

“I called [relevant officials] one by one. Which director general allowed it? If any director general allowed it, today is the end of their position, I guarantee that,” he said.

“The President has already stated that imports are not allowed because our stock is abundant,” he emphasized.

The ministry is coordinating with the Trade Ministry, the State Logistics Agency (Bulog), the National Police and the military to identify those involved and to prevent further unauthorized imports.

The government is also looking into other illegal rice imports that might have occurred in other regions, including Batam.

Amran said the illegal shipment to Sabang involved several irregularities, indicating a deliberate attempt at flaunting procedures.

“The permit from Thailand was already issued. That means this [illegal import] was planned,” he stated.

The minister added that proponents of importing rice had raised several reasons for continuing trade in the commodity, including claims that lower international prices made it attractive.

“Some said, ‘Yes, sir, because the price of rice from Thailand and Vietnam is [affordable].’ Yes, of course it is low, because Indonesia has not imported rice. For the last two years, when we imported more than 7 million tonnes together with corn, it was worth roughly Rp 100 trillion [US$6 billion],” Amran explained.

He also said the leaders of other countries had previously discussed exporting rice to Indonesia during their meetings with President Prabowo.

“They asked [to ship] 250,000 tonnes at most. But we conveyed to the President that our rice [stock] is sufficient, more than sufficient. In fact, it is projected that by the year-end, we will have the highest stock,” he said.

“This is the nation’s pride, that we can achieve food sovereignty,” Amran continued.

“Inshallah, we are very close, as we still have one month and one week [until] we can declare that Indonesia is already self-sufficient. Do not disturb it anymore,” he warned.

Record rice figures

According to Statistics Indonesia (BPS), domestic rice production is projected to reach 34.7 million tonnes this year, the highest level since 2019.

National rice reserves stored at Bulog warehouses currently stand at 3.8 million tonnes, also a record high, while the 2025 Rice Balance Projection of the National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas) expects the total volume of reserves to reach 12.89 million tonnes by the start of next year.

Meanwhile, the Provincial Food Balance Projection for Aceh shows a rice surplus of 871,400 tonnes, with available stock at 1.53 million tonnes and consumption demand of 667,700 tonnes.

Sabang has a projected surplus of 970 tonnes, with 5,911 tonnes of rice available to meet 4,940 tonnes of demand.

Published Date: November 25, 2025