InfoSAWIT, BANDAR LAMPUNG – Indonesia's Quarantine Agency (Barantin), through its Lampung office, has intercepted 75,992 illegal oil palm seeds destined for shipment across the country, preventing what authorities estimate could have resulted in annual losses of around Rp42 billion (approximately US$2.6 million) for farmers.
According to an official statement from Barantin, the operation demonstrates the government's commitment to safeguarding the quality of planting materials and protecting Indonesia's plantation sector from counterfeit seed distribution.
Head of the Indonesian Quarantine Agency, Abdul Kadir Karding, said illegal oil palm seeds not only threaten farmers' livelihoods but also pose long-term risks to the sustainability of the country's palm oil industry.
"The government must not allow counterfeit seed distribution to continue. We urge all businesses to comply with existing regulations, while those deliberately violating the law will face firm legal action," Karding said during the case announcement in Bandar Lampung.
Authorities estimate that the confiscated seeds could have been planted across approximately 500 hectares of oil palm plantations. The real impact, however, would only become evident after three to four years when the palms reach productive age, as counterfeit seedlings typically produce significantly lower yields—or fail to bear fruit altogether.
Based on calculations by the Lampung Provincial Plantation Office, such poor-quality planting material could inflict economic losses of around Rp3.5 billion per month, equivalent to Rp42 billion annually.
Investigation Began with 170 Suspicious Shipments
The case was uncovered through an intensive surveillance operation conducted between February 11 and April 10, 2026, during which quarantine officers intercepted 170 consignments containing nearly 76,000 oil palm seeds at the cargo terminal of Raden Inten II Airport in Lampung.
Initial inspections revealed irregularities in both the packaging and certificates claiming to originate from the Indonesian Oil Palm Research Institute (PPKS). None of the shipments carried the mandatory quarantine documentation required for the movement of planting materials.
Further investigation found that the counterfeit seeds were marketed through several major e-commerce platforms, including TikTok Shop, Shopee, Tokopedia, and Lazada. They were offered at approximately Rp1,300 per seed, far below the official PPKS price of around Rp8,300, raising strong suspicions of product falsification.
Authorities also discovered that shipments were sent via J&T Express and Lion Parcel, while senders used false identities, disguised package contents, frequently changed shipping locations, and personally delivered parcels to courier counters to avoid detection.
Counterfeit Seeds Confirmed
To verify authenticity, Barantin collaborated with PT Bina Sawit Makmur, the Indonesian Oil Palm Research Institute (PPKS), PT Dami Mas Sejahtera, and the Lampung Seed Quality Supervision and Testing Center (BP2MB).
The joint verification confirmed that both the seeds and the accompanying documentation were counterfeit.
Beyond economic losses, Karding warned that illegal planting materials may also introduce plant pests and diseases capable of spreading across plantations and reducing national productivity.
Barantin is continuing its investigation in cooperation with the Lampung Regional Police Intelligence Directorate. Preliminary findings suggest that multiple online seller accounts are linked to a single coordinated distribution network.
Authorities have identified several suspected operational locations and continue field investigations. Since April 10, 2026, no additional shipments have been detected through the same logistics route, although the broader investigation remains ongoing.
Barantin said it will continue strengthening inspections of planting materials and other regulated commodities to protect farmers, maintain plant health, and prevent illegal oil palm seeds from entering Indonesia's plantation sector. (T2)
Source: Badan Karantina Indonesia
