Police Dismantle Illegal Cyanide Circulation In Surabaya-Pasuruan, Seize 6,000 Drums

Director of Certain Crimes of Bareskrim Polri Brigadier General Nunung Syaifuddin

JAKARTA - The National Police through the Directorate of Certain Crimes (Dittipidter) of the Criminal Investigation Department revealed cases of illegally circulating cyanide in the areas of Surabaya and Pasuruan. From the series of disclosures, 6,000 drums of cyanide were confiscated.

The Director of Certain Crimes at Bareskrim Polri Brigadier General Nunung Syaifuddin said that in the disclosure of the case one person with the initials SH was named a suspect. The Director of PT Sehat Hidup Chemindo was also detained.

"The disclosure of the distribution of illegal cyanide is part of the efforts of the National Police Headquarters in minimizing illegal gold mining practices that often use cyanide in the gold separation process," Nunung told reporters, Wednesday, May 14.

The circulation of cyanide by the suspect was declared illegal because only two state-owned companies, namely PT Perusahaan Perdagangan Indonesia (PPI) and PT Sarinah, were entitled to import cyanide.

If it is carried out by another party, its use must be for its own interests and must have an official permit from the Ministry of Trade (Kemendag).

However, in this case, the suspect is known to have used another company's license whose validity permit has expired, then resold the cyanide to another party.

"Most of the buyers are in Eastern Indonesia, such as North Sulawesi, Gorontalo, Central Sulawesi, and Central Kalimantan," said Nunung.

Despite having named a suspect, Bareskrim Polri continues to develop the case. The goal is to identify all parties involved, including buyers and distributors of cyanide.