Aceh Police Seize Heavy Equipment From Illegal Gold Mining In Nagan Raya

Heavy equipment at illegal mining sites in Beutong, Nagan Raya Regency, Aceh. BETWEEN/HO-Bidhumas Aceh Police

The Aceh Regional Police Special Criminal Investigation Directorate Team secured an excavator type heavy equipment unit at an illegal gold mine site in the Beutong area, Nagan Raya Regency, Aceh.

Director of Special Criminal Investigation of the Aceh Police, Kombes Winardy, said that apart from heavy equipment, his team also examined three people who were in the illegal gold mine.

"The illegal mine is located in Tuwo Bunta Village, Beutong District, Nagan Raya Regency. Illegal mining was carried out on Sunday (29/10). This illegal mining case is still under investigation," he said as quoted by ANTARA, Monday, October 30.

The three people who are currently under investigation, namely the initials HD (21) as the operator of heavy equipment, as well as JM (28) and SB (35) as gold filtering workers.

The police also secured other evidence in the prosecution, including two gold filtering carpets, two packs of black powder, and digital scales.

"All the evidence is still at the location. The evidence cannot be brought because the river water discharge going to the mine site is still high," said Winardy.

The illegal gold mining was carried out based on reports from the public who felt uneasy about the rise of illegal mining activities that damaged the environment.

Based on the report, the Unit II team of Sub-Directorate IV of Certain Crimes of the Directorate of Special Criminal Investigation of the Aceh Police was deployed to the location to carry out an investigation.

"From the results of the investigation, it was found that the mine site was not licensed. The team also found a heavy equipment unit working so it was immediately stopped," he said.