inp.polri.go.id - Surabaya. The East Java Regional Police uncovers the embezzlement of 185 tons of sugar owned by three sugar factories in Jember, Lumajang, and Kediri. According to the latest case development in September, the loss reached IDR 3 billion.
The suspects were said to use social media and applications to seek the transportation fleet. They then manipulate the driver’s contact and the delivery destination so they can send it to other destinations.
"The perpetrators search for transportation fleets through social media and online applications, and manipulated the drivers' contact numbers to make communication appear normal," said the Head of Public Relations for the East Java Regional Police, Senior Superintendent Jules Abraham Abast, in Surabaya, Friday (10/16/2026).
Jules said the cargo transfer occurred between September 27 and October 2, 2026. The perpetrators' modus operandi was to change the unloading address listed on the delivery order (DO).
In the first case, 110 tons of sugar from the Semboro Sugar Factory in Jember, shipped on September 27–28, 2026, was allegedly diverted to a warehouse in Gunung Putri, Bogor Regency, West Java.
RK is suspected of controlling the network by seeking cargo information through Facebook and renting a fleet through the Link.id application. Meanwhile, RBI allegedly helped provide virtual numbers and find buyers in the Sidoarjo area.
The three original drivers carrying the cargo were reportedly unaware of the diversion. Some of the sugar was allegedly sold through an intermediary who remains on the wanted list (DPO).
The second case involved a sugar shipment from the Jatiroto Sugar Factory in Lumajang on September 28, 2026. Thirty-five tons of sugar, which was supposed to be sent to Bandung, was allegedly diverted to the Candi area of Sidoarjo Regency.
In this case, DNG allegedly orchestrated the diversion by posing as the party involved in the DO letter. Meanwhile, YYG allegedly impersonated the assigned driver. After the diversion, the sugar was transferred to another vehicle for resale.
The third case involved 40 tons of sugar from the Ngadirejo Sugar Factory in Kediri, which was supposed to be shipped to Sukabumi between September 28 and October 2, 2026. However, the cargo was allegedly diverted and sold in the Magetan and Madiun areas.
DNG is again suspected of coordinating the diversion. The purchase transaction was recorded at approximately IDR 679 million, while the remaining sugar was allegedly sold at retail in the Tulungagung area.
The Director of General Criminal Investigation at the East Java Regional Police, Senior Superintendent Roy Hutton Marulamrata Sihombing, stated that investigators are still developing the case to uncover the roles of each party, trace the sugar distribution channels, and determine the flow of financial transactions related to the case.
"We are investigating the diversion mechanism, who was involved from the beginning until the resale, the alleged fraud and embezzlement of the sugar cargo, and how the proceeds from the sugar security were distributed," Roy said.
During the investigation, police have secured several pieces of evidence, including a cell phone, a Daihatsu Gran Max pickup truck, and the remaining money suspected to have originated from the crime. A number of other parties still have DPO status and are part of the developing investigation.
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