Fake Honey Scams – Produced in a dirty factory and causes health problems.

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com – Banten police revealed the practice of adulteration of honey. The perpetrator, TM (35), was arrested on suspicion of manufacturing fake honey.

The man who previously traded noodles was arrested at his production site in the Kembangan area, West Jakarta, on Wednesday (11/4/2020).

TM admitted that he changed professions after demand for honey spiked during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Armed with the information it obtained from the surrounding environment, TM produced fake honey.

Meanwhile, to commercialize it, he had the assistance of two colleagues who had also been arrested.

Also read: Taking a look at the fake honey factory with hundreds of millions of laps in Kembangan

According to the explanation of the Chief of the Indag 1 Sub-Directorate, the Special Investigation and Crimes Directorate of the Banten Regional Police, Doffie Fahlevi, the honey produced by TM can have effects on health.

Instead of boosting their immunity, residents who consumed the honey complained of stomach pain and vomiting.

“Many Banten residents have stomach aches after drinking this honey,” said Doffie.

TM was arrested after the police deliberately bought the fake honey it was trading. The police then conducted a content test on the honey.

From the test results, it was found that the honey produced by TM did not contain real honey.

Also read: How to distinguish real honey from fake honey according to Banten farmers

Dirty factory

A rented one-story house, located at Jalan SMA 101 Joglo, Kembangan, was transformed by TM into a factory that produces fake honey.

At a glance, you can be sure that the contents of the house are far from hygienic.

“You can see it’s not sterile here at all,” Doffie said.

Dozens of drums of fake honey mix are assembled inside the makeshift factory. There were dead flies floating in the honey liquid.

A strong smell emanated from the drums arranged in the factory.

Meanwhile, the floor of that place was brown due to spilling of the fake honey liquid.

Be careful when stepping on because the floor is sticky and dirty.

At the back of the rented house, there is a special room used by TM to cook fake liquid honey.

Whenever dangerous substances are mixed

To make fake honey, TM mixes various ingredients in an arbitrary ratio.

“The perpetrator used the material roughly, how much color was enough, it was sweet enough, it was thick enough. It’s all guesswork,” Doffie explained.

One of the ingredients used is molasses.

“Molasses is a mixture of animal feed, so it is dangerous to consume,” said Doffie.

Also Read: Counterfeit Honey Makers In The Daily Expansion Of The Chicken Noodle Trade

After that, the mixture is bottled so that it is difficult to distinguish it from real honey on the market.

The liquid honey will be assisted by two colleagues from PTTM located in Banten.

The partner will place the order by phone and then will come directly to the factory to bring the honey that has been packaged, or that is in drums for marketing.

Raise hundreds of millions of rupees

A bottle sold by TM is known to be priced at IDR 25,000.

Meanwhile, the capital TM needs to make a bottle is only Rs 17,000.

According to information from TM, in one production per day, it can produce a ton of honey.

From this ton of honey, it generates a turnover of 600 million rupees.

“They can (get a turnover) of Rp. 600 million for one production,” Doffie said.

As calculated by the Banten Regional Police, it means that in one year, it can generate a sales volume of more than Rp. 8 billion.

Due to his actions, TM could face a five-year prison sentence.