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View all search resultsGovt mounts probe after illegal rice import slips into Aceh
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.
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Workers unload sacks of imported Thai rice on June 10, 2024, at Malahayati Port in Aceh Besar, Aceh. (Antara/Ampelsa)
T
he 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.
