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View all search resultsGovt to destroy 130 tonnes of illegally imported onions over disease concerns
Amran said illegal imports of agricultural produce not only cause financial losses to the state through unpaid taxes and duties, but also pose a serious threat to the environment and national agriculture by potentially introducing plant diseases.
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Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman (center) leaves the site after inspecting seized illegal onions at a warehouse complex on Jan 10, 2026, in Semarang, Central Java. Authorities confiscated 133.5 tonnes of onions suspected to have been smuggled into the country. (Antara foto/Aprillio Akbar)
T
he government has ordered the destruction of 133 tonnes of illegally imported onions after authorities found they may carry harmful bacteria and fungi not present in Indonesia.
Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman said the onions were seized on Friday at Tanjung Emas Port in Semarang, Central Java, following a tip from the public.
“I received a report that a shipment of illegal onions was heading to Semarang. At first, I was not entirely sure about the information, but I immediately contacted local authorities, who successfully intercepted the shipment as it was leaving the port,” Amran said over the weekend.
According to the minister, the onions arrived aboard the Dharma Kartika VII ship from Pontianak, West Kalimantan, and were transported using seven trucks. The cargo was concealed under multiple layers of tarpaulin, allegedly to evade inspection.
Read also: Govt mounts probe after illegal rice import slips into Aceh
Officials said the shipment lacked mandatory quarantine documents which is a violation of import regulations. Authorities are now investigating the origin of the onions and identifying those responsible for the illegal shipment.
All seven trucks and their cargo have been secured at the fumigation depot of the Central Java Animal, Fish and Plant Quarantine Agency (BKHIT) within the Tanjung Emas Port complex.
