Two cattle feedlots near Jakarta are being investigated for withholding stock amid Indonesia's beef shortage.
Indonesia's National Police sealed the two Tangerang feedlots after discovering about 4000 slaughter-ready cattle, Indonesian newspaper Kompas reports.
Beef prices soared after Jakarta's decision to cut live cattle imports from Australia last month. However, officials suspected importers and feedlots of manipulating prices by holding back supply.
Angry meat sellers went on strike, forcing the government to reverse its decision on Monday with the issuance of another 50,000 permits for Australian live cattle.
The trade minister responsible, Rachmat Gobel, wanted to lessen the dependence on imported stock.
He lost his job in a cabinet reshuffle on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, President Joko Widodo maintains his ambition for Indonesian food self-sufficiency.
"We have conducted a lot of imports so far," he told Indonesian wire service Antara. "We must have courage to stop imports."
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