West Pasaman Police Arrest 7 Illegal Gold Miners

West Pasaman Police Chief AKBP Agung Basuki/ANTARA HO West Pasaman Police

West Pasaman Resort Police, West Sumatra, arrested seven illegal gold miners in Jorong Kampung Baru, Nagari Batahan Barat, Ranah Batahan District, using heavy excavators.

West Pasaman Police Chief AKBP Agung Basuki at Simpang Empat, Tuesday, said the perpetrator was caught red-handed while mining gold in a plantation in the area.

"We take firm action against the perpetrators of this gold mining without a permit. If allowed, the natural ecosystem and the surrounding environment will be damaged and not preserved," he said as quoted by ANTARA, Tuesday, November 28.

According to him, the seven perpetrators who were arrested were respectively the initials AH (34), MA (47), S (40), NA (37), IUM (33), RS (39) and RS (16).

"The perpetrators who were arrested served as operators of heavy equipment and members of the box. One of them was a minor," said the Police Chief

The arrest began with information from the public regarding the existence of gold mining activities without permission in community plantations.

Following up on this information, he said, on Tuesday (28/11) morning at 03.00 WIB, Satreskrim personnel led by the Criminal Investigation Unit AKP Fahrel Haris went straight to the location and found the mining activity.

"After it was confirmed that there was such activity, it was only around 04.00 WIB that the Satreskrim personnel immediately made arrests and managed to secure seven people. Meanwhile, one person managed to escape," he said.

The perpetrator who managed to escape had the initials AYR (26) who served as a heavy equipment operator.

After the perpetrators were arrested, it was only around 09.00 WIB that the personnel of the Intelligence and Security Unit and the Ranah Batahan Police came to the location to assist the Satreskrim personnel.

"As an anticipation of the possibility of resistance from the perpetrators, we deploy West Pasaman Police personnel who are on standby at the Ranah Batahan Police Station as support for the team at the location of the arrest," he said.

After the perpetrators were confirmed safe, he explained, the team collected evidence at the location.

The evidence that was secured was in the form of a heavy equipment unit of the XMG PC 200 excavator, three strands of gold filtering carpets, three gold jet equipment, one water pipe hose, and gold which were still mixed with black sand from mining.

Furthermore, at around 13.00 WIB, heavy equipment and other suspects and evidence were mobilized to be brought to the West Pasaman Police Headquarters.

The police chief together with a number of main police officers immediately went to the location of the arrest to re-check the field conditions after the arrest of seven perpetrators. Until this afternoon the situation was still conducive.

He emphasized this as proof of the commitment of the West Pasaman Police and the ranks in eradicating illegal mining or illegal gold mining in the jurisdiction of the West Pasaman Police.

"Currently, the perpetrators have been detained at the West Pasaman Police Headquarters for further investigation. It is possible that we will carry out further development of who is behind the activity," he said.