Counterfeit Minyakita Syndicate Busted, Bulk Oil Repackaged

The East Java Regional Police have successfully dismantled a sophisticated operation involved in the illegal repackaging and sale of subsidized Minyakita cooking oil. This significant bust in Sidoarjo underscores the authorities' commitment to ensuring food stability and protecting consumer rights against fraudulent practices.

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Today we are reporting on the disclosure of a criminal case of illegal Minyakita palm cooking oil production, specifically related to quality standards, labels, and measurements.

Four individuals have been named as suspects in this case, encompassing roles from financier to production operator. Their modus operandi involved purchasing bulk cooking oil from official distributors and then illegally repackaging it under the Minyakita brand. Crucially, they manipulated filling machines to shortchange consumers, providing less oil than indicated on the labels.

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In practice, the suspects produced cooking oil with measurements that did not match the label.

This illicit trade had been ongoing since December 2025, with the syndicate producing an estimated 900 to 1,000 cartons per production run, raking in substantial profits. The counterfeit Minyakita was distributed not only within East Java but also reached as far as Tarakan in North Kalimantan, highlighting the widespread nature of the fraud. Authorities seized packaging machinery, storage tanks, and dozens of cartons of the substandard product.

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The results of the investigation revealed that this practice has been ongoing since December 2025 with a production capacity of 900 to 1,000 cartons per production run and a turnover of approximately Rp234 million.