Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman announced the sealing of 250 tons of illegal imported rice entering via Sabang, Aceh, without central government permission. The case violates President Prabowo Subianto's directive banning rice imports due to ample national stocks. Amran stressed the commitment to accelerating national food self-sufficiency.
On Sunday (23/11/2025), the government received a report of 250 tons of illegal rice imports from Thailand entering via Sabang, Aceh, without official documents from national authorities. Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman immediately led coordination with the Aceh Police Chief, National Police Criminal Investigation Chief, Iskandar Muda Regional Military Commander, and the Trade Minister to verify and seal the rice. The warehouse of PT MSG was sealed, and all distribution was halted.
Amran stated, “The rice has been sealed and we ask the apparatus to trace the involved parties. We see several irregularities and the national stock is currently very sufficient,” while speaking in Jakarta on Monday (24/11/2025). He highlighted irregularities, where the import request was rejected in a coordination meeting on November 14, but the permit from the origin country was issued first, indicating a possible premeditated plan.
President Prabowo's policy bans rice imports to safeguard food self-sufficiency, with the 2025 national production projection reaching 34.7 million tons according to the Central Statistics Agency (BPS). Bulog's stock stands at 3.8 million tons, and the rice balance as of November 5 projects an initial 2026 stock of 12.89 million tons. Aceh has a surplus of 871.4 thousand tons, while Sabang has a surplus of 970 tons with availability of 5,911 tons against needs of 4,940 tons.
“There is no reason for imports. This concerns the nation's honor and we are very close to self-sufficiency. Illegal actions like this can disrupt that achievement,” Amran emphasized. The government will further investigate the perpetrators, including possible similar cases in Batam, to maintain food stability and protect farmers from harmful illegal practices.
