The Banten Regional Police’s General Criminal Investigation Directorate (Ditreskrimum) has dismantled a robbery syndicate targeting diesel tanker trucks along the Tangerang-Merak Toll Road at KM 75. Six suspects have been arrested, while two others remain at large, including one armed with a firearm.
“This case was reported on July 24, 2025, at around 1:00 a.m. Western Indonesian Time. The victims were the driver and assistant of a tanker truck carrying 14 kiloliters of diesel,” according to Senior Commissioner, Director of Criminal Investigation at the Banten Regional Police. He explained that the robbery was carefully planned by the perpetrators at a house in the Lebak area. After finalizing their plan, the suspects waited at a rest area on the Balaraja Toll Road. When the targeted tanker arrived, they forced it to stop, with one perpetrator pointing a firearm at the victim. The driver and assistant were blindfolded, their hands tied, and then transferred into the perpetrators’ vehicle.
The stolen truck was taken to another location, dismantled, and its diesel fuel sold. The victims were later abandoned near the West Serang Toll exit, while the tanker was left empty. From the Rp110 million (USD 6,756) proceeds of the stolen diesel, each of the six suspects received about Rp11.5 million (USD 710). Investigators quickly acted, arresting four suspects on August 2 and two more the following day. The other two remain fugitives.
The Senior Commissioner revealed that two of the perpetrators are members of community organizations, while the others work in the private sector and reside in Lebak and Serang. The suspects are charged under Article 365 of the Criminal Code concerning theft with violence, which carries a maximum penalty of death or life imprisonment.
Police investigations also showed the syndicate had carried out four similar robberies, three in West Java and one in Banten, all using the same modus operandi: targeting diesel tankers on toll roads, holding drivers hostage, and draining their cargo. Evidence seized included a tanker truck, a vehicle, a cellphone, an e-toll card, and cash, while another vehicle used, is still being pursued. Authorities have also identified the buyer of the stolen diesel fuel and are working to apprehend them.
“We ask for the support of the public and media partners so that the other two perpetrators, including the one carrying a firearm, are quickly apprehended. We will not stop until all the perpetrators are apprehended”, the senior commissioner emphasized.
