Riau Police Arrest 2 Perpetrators Of Illegal Gold Shelters And Purification In Kuantan Singingi

The Riau Police's Special Criminal Investigation Directorate (Ditreskrimsus) has reiterated its commitment to eradicating illegal mining activities in the Riau region.

The Sub-Directorate IV team managed to uncover the practice of sheltering, purification, and selling illegal gold in Lubuk Ramo Village, Kuantan Mudik District, Kuantan Singingi Regency, on Wednesday (5/11) night.

The two arrested perpetrators are Rody Nasri and Sihar Saputra Silalahi who were arrested while making a sale of mineral metals allegedly gold at the purification site in Hamlet II Kelapa Gading.

The police also secured evidence in the form of two gold mineral metal fronts, one small bottle containing mercury liquid, two oxygen gas cylinders, thirty pottery ceramics, and one digital scale.

Direskrimsus Polda Riau Kombes Ade Kuncoro explained, this disclosure began with public information regarding the existence of gold refining and selling activities that did not come from mining business license holders (IUP) or other official permits.

The team immediately followed up the information on November 3, 2025. After an investigation, the team confirmed that there were illegal gold purification and transactions.

"On November 5, at 19.00 WIB, personnel immediately took action at the location," Kombes Ade told reporters, Thursday, November 6.

During the initial examination, continued Ade, the two perpetrators admitted that they were mining gold in the HGU PT Karya Tama Bakti Mulya area using a matchmaking machine (binding device), then selling the proceeds to someone named Fauzi for IDR 1,920,000 per gram, adjusting the price of daily gold.

This 2000 Akpol graduate emphasized that activities like this are not only detrimental to the country but also very dangerous to the environment and society, especially because of the use of mercury that can contaminate soil and water sources.

According to him, illegal mining is not just an economic problem. There are very serious environmental impacts, especially due to the use of chemicals such as mercury.

This is because the use of mercury can damage the soil, poison water, and threaten the lives of the surrounding community, and threaten public health in the long term.

"This endangers the surrounding community. We will continue to take action as a form of war against illegal mining," he said.

The two perpetrators are now being held at the Riau Police for further legal proceedings.

Investigators ensnared the suspects under Article 161 of Law Number 3 of 2020 concerning Minerba, with a maximum imprisonment of 5 years and a fine of up to Rp. 100 billion.

Kombes Ade again appealed to the public not to be involved in mining activities without a permit, and asked business actors and the public to immediately report if they learned of illegal practices that could damage the environment and endanger safety.

"Law enforcement will continue and there will be no tolerance for anyone who damages the environment and harms the country," said Kombes Ade.