RRI.CO.ID, Tangerang - The Indonesian police have uncovered 14 tons of expired lamb imported from Australia, circulating across three locations in Tangerang, Banten: Cikupa, Kosambi, and Batuceper.

Head of Sub-Directorate I of the National Police’s Criminal Investigation Agency (Bareskrim), Sr. Com. Setyo K. Heriyanto, said the seized meat was part of a larger shipment of 24 tons imported in 2022. “Of the 24 tons, some had already been sold. The remaining 14 tons expired and were then resold by the suspects,” Setyo explained at a warehouse in Cikupa on Monday, March 16, 2026.

Investigations revealed that suspect IY, identified as the seller, resold the expired lamb in February and March 2026 with the help of brokers AR and T. They sold 1.6 tons to a buyer, SS, for IDR 80.6 million (USD 5.100), or around IDR 50,000 per kilogram. Brokers AR and T reportedly earned about IDR 40 million in profit from the illegal sales.

Expired lamb was marketed at traditional markets in Jakarta and Tangerang at prices ranging from IDR 81,000 to IDR 85,000 per kilogram. The suspects now face charges under Indonesia’s Consumer Protection Law (Law No. 8/1999), the Food Law (Law No. 18/2012), and the Job Creation Law (Law No. 6/2023). Penalties include up to five years in prison or fines of up to IDR 2 billion.

Head of Bareskrim’s Resmob Unit, Sr. Com. Teuku Arsya Khadafi, said the suspects intended to distribute the meat ahead of Eid al-Fitr, when demand for lamb is high. Police have named four suspects: IY (seller and owner of the expired meat), brokers T and AR, and SS (buyer).

The case began with reports of expired Australian lamb carcasses being traded illegally. Police seized three trucks carrying nine tons of expired lamb and raided two storage sites: one in Batuceper, Tangerang City, and another in Cikupa, Tangerang Regency. In total, investigators confiscated 12.9 tons of expired lamb packed in hundreds of boxes.

“Thanks to information from the public, we were able to prevent wider distribution and secure the expired meat before it reached consumers,” Setyo said. (Diffa Sephiawardhani/Sri Wahyuni)