Police Arrest 34 Illegal Mining Perpetrators In Central Kalimantan

Director of Criminal Investigation at the Central Kalimantan Police, Kombes Pol Setyo K Heriyanto/left/ANTARA/Adi Wibowo.

PALANGKA RAYA - Directorate of Special Criminal Investigation (Ditreskrimsus) of the Central Kalimantan Police (Kalteng) arrested 34 gold mining actors without permission (peti) in the jurisdiction of the local Police.

Direskrimsus Polda Kalteng Kombes Setyo K Heriyanto said of the 34 arrested perpetrators, 22 of them were from various regions.

"The disclosure was of course assisted by the community who had provided information to us, then after the investigation was carried out it was true, the perpetrator was immediately arrested," said Setyo, quoted by ANTARA, Thursday, August 24.

In their action, the perpetrators carried out the mining without a permit on land outside the concession and mining business permit (IUP).

The perpetrators cleared the land using heavy excavator equipment and then started mining activities.

Of the 34 perpetrators who were successfully secured, all of them were individuals or private businesses. His party has not found any mining carried out or capitalized by a company or corporation.

"But we are still developing all the perpetrators. Even if there is, of course we will follow up and take firm action in accordance with applicable regulations," he explained.

The Head of Public Relations of the Central Kalimantan Police, Kombes Erlan Munaji, revealed that of all the perpetrators, the police secured evidence of 1.4 kilograms of gold, 3,226 kilograms of zircon, four trucks, five excavators and a set of mining equipment.

"All of our perpetrators are ensnared by Law on Mineral and Coal Number 3 of 2020, with a maximum penalty of five years and a maximum fine of Rp. 100 billion," he said.