Lampung Police Investigate Illegal Mining Activities That Cause Floods

Director of Criminal Investigation at the Lampung Police, Grand Commissioner Pol Derry Agung Wijaya/ Photo: ANTARA

The Lampung Regional Police's Special Criminal Investigation Directorate (Ditreskrimsus) continues to carry out investigations related to illegal mining activities that are suspected to be the cause of flooding in Bandarlampung City.

"Since early April 2025, we have held a coordination meeting with the Lampung Provincial Environment Agency (DLH) and carried out field verification at six locations suspected of being the source of illegal mining activities and dredging hills in Bandarlampung City," said the Director of Criminal Investigation at the Lampung Police, Kombes Pol. Derry Agung Wijaya, ANTARA, Sunday.

He said the field verification activity was carried out by a DLH verifier accompanied by Tipiter investigators from the Lampung Police Ditreskrimsus.

"We found not only illegal mining activities, but also hill excavations and dredging carried out on the grounds of housing construction and heavy equipment parking lots," he said.

According to him, the activities carried out by illegal mining have the potential to damage the environment and exacerbate the risk of flooding in Bandarlampung.

"The installation of warning signs has been carried out at six locations and the minutes submitted, with details of one handed over to the legal side of PT MSB, two entrusted to the security guard because there were no activities and the owner, and the other three were handed over to the local village head because the location was without guards and activities," he said.

Kombes Derry said, of the six points installed by the warning sign, the Lampung Police conducted an investigation at three main points, namely PT MSB which is currently in the investigation stage, as well as PT Campang Jaya and PT JC who are also in the clarification stage with related parties.

"Meanwhile, the other three points are still in the stage of collecting information (pulbaket) to find out who is in charge, because during the installation of the sign, no guards or responsible were found," he said.

He added that the obstacle in the field during the installation of the sign was the absence of activity at the location, with several points only guarded without activity and several others without guards at all.

"Regarding the alleged criminal act, investigators ensnared the perpetrators under Article 158 of Law Number 3 of 2020 concerning Mineral and Coal Mining, as well as Article 109 or 114 of Law Number 32 of 2009 concerning Environmental Protection and Management," he said.

He also emphasized that the Lampung Police are committed to taking firm action against illegal activities that damage the environment and endanger the community. Law enforcement is important so that flood events due to environmental damage do not happen again.

"The Lampung Police together with relevant agencies will continue to oversee this investigation process and will follow up on the results in accordance with applicable legal provisions in order to preserve the environment and security of the community in Bandarlampung," he said.

Dozens of teenagers and youth who have been arrested are asked to call their parents to come and at the same time be given an explanation and understanding so that they can jointly provide guidance.

Meanwhile, the 32 confiscated two-wheeled vehicles are now handed over to the Makassar Police Traffic Unit for inspection of vehicle documents. Devi added that on average this teenager does not have a driving license (SIM) because he is still a minor.