Pidie Aceh Police Seize 2 Illegal Gold Mine Excavators

PHOTO VIA BETWEEN

PIDIE - The Pidie Police Team, Aceh, uncovered a case of illegal gold mining and confiscated two heavy equipment suspected of being used for mining activities.

The Head of Public Relations of the Aceh Police, Kombes Winardy, said that the illegal gold mining was in Bangkeh Village, Geumpang District, Pidie Regency.

"In disclosing the illegal gold mine, officers found two units of excavators. However, the perpetrators fled before officers arrived at the location," he said, quoted by Antara, Thursday, January 13.

Accompanied by the Pidie Police Chief AKBP Padli, Kombes Winardy said that the disclosure of the illegal gold mine was based on community reports.

From the information from the public, the Pidie Police Criminal Investigation Unit personnel investigated it. The investigation lasted for five days in the forest area of the Geumpang Mountains.

"During the investigation, officers walked us 15 kilometers to the location of an illegal gold mine. Based on road tracks, officers found one unit of heavy equipment hidden in a forest 500 meters away from the mine," he said.

Then officers found a second heavy equipment about five kilometers from the mine site. The heavy equipment was also hidden in the forest.

The officers then took the heavy equipment out of the forest area. But on the way, one unit of heavy equipment was damaged, so it couldn't be carried

While carrying the heavy equipment, the officers were confronted by 300 people. However, after mediation and being given an understanding, the officers were finally able to bring the heavy equipment, he said.

"Officers are still investigating and pursuing the perpetrators of the illegal gold mining. The gold mining has also been troubling the community," he said.