Prabowo Orders Officials To Expand Illegal Mining Operations Throughout Indonesia

Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto while reviewing the confiscation of illegal smelters related to illegal mining in the PT Timah area, Bangka Belitung, Monday (6/10/2025). (Presidential Media Team)

President Prabowo Subianto has instructed all law enforcement officials to expand efforts to control illegal mining practices in Indonesia in order to save state assets worth trillions of rupiah.

The directive was conveyed by the Head of State during an intercept interview session in Pangkalpinang, Bangka Belitung Islands, Monday afternoon, October 6, on the sidelines of the agenda of handing over goods looted by the state from illegal mining cases to PT Timah Tbk.

"This is a proud achievement so that we continue. The Attorney General, Commander of the TNI, Customs and Excise, Maritime Security Agency, continue. We save the country's wealth for our people," said President Prabowo.

"This is a proud achievement so that we continue. The Attorney General, Commander of the TNI, Customs and Excise, Maritime Security Agency, continue. We save the country's wealth for our people," said President Prabowo.

The booty consisted of six units of smelter belonging to PT Tinindo Internusa worth Rp. 6 trillion to Rp. 7 trillion, which is one of the assets confiscated by the Attorney General's Office in the case of alleged corruption in tin trading system with state losses estimated at Rp. 300 trillion.

The purification factories confiscated by the Attorney General's Office include PT Stanindo Inti Perkasa (SIP) in Pangkalpinang, PT Venus Inti Perkasa in Pangkalpinang, PT Sarijuna Bina Sentosa in Pangkalpinang, and PT Tefind Bangka Tin (RBT) in Bangka Regency.

The President considers this success as a joint achievement between law enforcement and state defense officials. Prabowo emphasized that similar operations will continue to be expanded to other regions to ensure that Indonesia's natural resources are truly managed for the greatest prosperity of the people.

"So, this is proof that the government is serious about eradicating smuggling, eradicating illegal mining, eradicating all those who violate the law," he said.

The illegal mining products were smuggled using sea transportation from ships to canoes.

"We closed it, and smuggled it all kinds of things. Some used ships, some used ferries. Now it's closed, it can't come out. Sampan can't even get out," he said.

The Head of State estimates that efforts to control illegal mines that will continue to be expanded will be able to save state money of up to IDR 22 trillion by the end of this year.