The Joint Apparatus Burns 48 Illegal Gold Mining Rafts in Kuansing Riau

A number of PETI rafts in Central Kuantan, Kuansing, Riau Province were burned by a joint team of the Indonesian National Police and Satpol PP. ANTARA/HO-Polres Kuansing.

JAKARTA - The joint apparatus burned 48 rafts of Unauthorized Gold Mining (PETI) in the rubber plantation area of Jake Village, Central Kuantan District, owned by the Kuansing Singingi Regency Government (Pemkab), Riau Province.

Head of the Central Kuantan Police, AKP Linter Sihaloho, said that this action was carried out as a commitment by the police to respond quickly to every report from the community regarding illegal mining that has the potential to damage the environment.

"This firm step was taken after the police received reports and reviewed social media regarding the alleged illegal mining activities in the area of local government assets," he said in a statement received in Pekanbaru, Thursday, quoted by Antara.

He said a joint team was formed and deployed to the location and carried out a crackdown on Wednesday (17/12). As a result of the search at the location, officers found dozens of rafts of PETI in the rubber plantation area.

However, all the equipment is no longer operational and abandoned by its owners. To prevent similar activities from happening again, the joint apparatus immediately destroyed the rafts and PETI equipment by being vandalized and burned on site.

During the crackdown, no perpetrators were secured because no mining activity was found when officers arrived. "We will continue to closely monitor," said Linter.

He also invited the public to play an active role in maintaining the environment by reporting any indications of illegal mining. Meanwhile, his party continues to be committed to continuing patrols and law enforcement to protect regional assets and environmental sustainability in Kuantan Singingi.