Gowa Rice Field Turns Into Mining, Joint Team Reveals Alleged Illegal Excavation

The joint TNI-Polri team suspects that several rice fields in Giring-Giring Village, Bontonompo District, Gowa Regency, South Sulawesi are illegal excavation sites C.

"From the results of field checks, there are several points suspected of being illegal mining locations. But when the team arrived, it turned out that there was no activity whatsoever," said Gowa Police Chief AKBP Muhammad Aldy Sulaeman, quoted by ANTARA, Tuesday, May 20.

When asked whether the operation with Dandim 1409 Gowa Lt. Col. Inf. Heri Kuswanto and his staff of information had been leaked at the beginning, so that all activities and heavy equipment for land dredging were temporarily removed, he answered the possibility as such.

"Information about local residents there is indeed a mine there, but it has not been operating for the last few days (before it was raided). We do not know whether this control information has been leaked before or not," said the former Head of Criminal Investigation Unit of the Kediri Police.

From the observation of the unmanned fleet by air, said the former Head of Criminal Investigation Unit of the Malang Police, and the Port of Tanjung Perak Surabaya, there was severe environmental damage. The rice fields have holes. It is suspected that the land has changed its function and does not have a mining permit.

It can even be seen from the air video of heavy equipment type excavators that were deliberately hidden by the alleged perpetrators of illegal miners a little away from the mine site, or about two kilometers from the location.

"But we cannot confirm whether the heavy equipment is used for illegal mining activities or not. This is still under further investigation. We continue to monitor its development, because it is clear that it is damaging to the environment, let alone not licensed. It can be punished," he asserted.

Although the joint operation was not optimal, his party is committed to continuing to follow up on the alleged violation of the law, including tracing the traces of the alleged illegal mining perpetrators who damaged the agricultural environment.

The joint operation of the TNI-Polri, he added, is expected to provide a deterrent effect for the perpetrators, as well as maintain the sustainability of the function of agricultural land as a support for community food security.