Defense Minister Appreciates The Arrest Of Nickel Smugglers Foreigners At IWIP Airport

JAKARTA - The success of arresting foreign nationals (WNA) who tried to smuggle nickel at PT Indonesia Weda Bay Industrial Park (IWIP) Weda Bay, North Maluku on Friday, December 5, was appreciated by the Minister of Defense Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin.

According to Sjafrie, as reported by ANTARA, Saturday, December 6, the arrest attempt was a form of the government's firm stance in protecting the country's natural resources from responsible parties.

Sjafrie continued, the efforts to place security officers from the government at IWIP airport were also part of efforts to protect the country's natural resources.

"The state is here to enforce the law, enforce regulations, and we fix all the things we have seen so far. There should be no republic in the republic," said Sjafrie.

Therefore, Sjafrie ensured that IWIP and all other private airports, which had previously been under surveillance, would be guarded to prevent human resource smuggling.

Previously, the IWIP Airport Integrated Task Force arrested a foreigner with the initials MY for carrying five packs of nickel powder and four packs of pure nickel powder.

He was arrested by officers while on a flight using a Super Air Jet on the Wade Bay (WDB) - Manado (MDC) route.

It was not explained in more detail the chronology of the arrests or motives of the perpetrators. Until now, the perpetrators have been arrested and examined by officers for further questioning.

To note, tightening the supervision of the IWIP airport with elements of the government is a follow-up to the government's move on November 29, 2025.

The tightening was carried out because the IWIP airport, which has been operating since 2019, was not equipped with strict security elements from the government.

Therefore, the government places an Integrated Task Force consisting of elements of the TNI PAM Task Force, namely Customs and Excise; Immigration; Polri; Fish, Animal and Plant Quarantine; Health Quarantine; BMKG; AirNav Indonesia; and Avsec to tighten airport areas.

This is done so that the airport does not become an exit or entry to illegal activities, especially those related to the misuse of Indonesia's natural resources.