Illegal Mining At IKN Terendus, East Kalimantan Police Tracing Until Surabaya

East Kalimantan Police Chief Inspector General Endar Priantoro (right) with Pangdam VI/Mulawarman Major General TNI Rudy Rachmat Nugraha (center) (ANTARAPHOTO/Aditya Nugroho)

BALIKPAPAN - East Kalimantan Police Chief Inspector General Endar Priantoro confirmed that the investigation into the illegal coal mining case in the Nusantara Capital (IKN) area is still ongoing.

He said the investigation process was carried out by the Directorate of Certain Crimes (Dittipidter) of the Criminal Investigation Unit of the National Police, while the East Kalimantan Police were tasked with supporting security and field tracing.

"We fully support the investigation process of illegal mining cases at IKN," said Endar when confirmed in Balikpapan, East Kalimantan, Antara, Thursday, July 24.

Endar said that the East Kalimantan Regional Police were also involved in securing investigations carried out by Bareskrim, including during the search of coal origins which were then traced to the Surabaya area.

Illegal mining activities in the area that is now the location of IKN are said to have been going on since 2016. The East Kalimantan Police, said Endar, has a high commitment in enforcing the law against mining without a permit.

"We have a commitment to illegal mining cases in East Kalimantan, and we are enforcing the law," he said.

In the March to July 2025, the East Kalimantan Police have handled eight illegal mining cases. One of them is an illegal gold mine in West Kutai, while the other seven are coal mines in a number of locations such as the Mulawarman University (Unmul) Samarinda, Kutai Kartanegara, and West Kutai.

"A total of eight cases have been revealed. One illegal gold mine in West Kutai, the rest are coal mining," said Endar.

He added that all disclosures of the case would be officially announced after the investigation process was complete.

"We will especially release the disclosure of illegal mining cases in East Kalimantan," he said.

Endar also emphasized that the East Kalimantan Regional Police are strengthening coordination with central and regional government agencies in efforts to monitor and take action against mines without permits that damage the environment.