Police Arrest Illegal Gold Miners In Sukabumi Forest Area

SUKABUMI - Sukabumi Police Criminal and Investigation Unit (Satreskrim) arrested five illegal or gurandil gold miners operating in the forest area of Cibuluh Block, Sukabumi Regency, West Java.

"This arrest was after we received a report regarding illegal mining activities in the forest area of Blok Cibuluh, Ciemas Village/District, Sukabumi Regency which we immediately developed and succeeded in arresting five suspects along with evidence ranging from mining equipment, vehicles to mining products," said Sukabumi Police Chief AKBP Maruly Pardede reported by ANTARA, Saturday, June 3.

The five suspects are S alias D (35) a resident of Babakan Village, Bunasih Village, Tegalbuleud District who acts as a financier. Then E Alias A (22) a resident of Kampung, Waluranmandiri Village, Waluran District.

Furthermore, A (32) a resident of Ciengang Village, Cihaur Village, Simpenan District, Ts (38) a resident of Simpang Village, Kertajaya Village, Simpenan District and M alias I (22) a resident of Hegarsari Village, Cihaur Village, Simpenan District. Where the four suspects served as miners.

The arrests were made on Thursday (1/6) at around 15 WIB by visiting the location of illegal mining activities in the Cibuluh Block which were immediately arrested by five suspects.

The modus operandi they carry out is by entering the forest area of Blok Cibuluh by using a motorcycle and carrying a number of equipment to carry out mining such as hammers, thighs, sacks and plates.

Arriving at the location of the suspects, they entered a hole where it was believed that there was a rock containing gold. Then inside the hole they worked together fromtangling to transporting mining products.

The stone that was allegedly containing gold was immediately brought back to suspect S's house for processing, such as separating gold from rocks.

According to Maruly, the arrests made by his party were in addition to reports, this illegal mining activity had the potential for forest damage, plus recently there were several irregularities that were buried in the hole.

For the evidence confiscated as many as five motorbikes used by the suspect, 11 sacks containing rocks containing gold, two units of four thighs, three hammers and two plates.

The five suspects were charged with Article 89 paragraph (1) UURI Number 8 of 2013 concerning Prevention and Eradication of Forest Destruction which carries a maximum prison sentence of 15 years and a maximum fine of Rp. 10 billion.

Then they were charged with Article 158 of UURI Number 3 of 2020 concerning Amendments to UURI Number 4 of 2009 concerning Mineral and Coal Mining which carries a maximum imprisonment of five years and a maximum fine of Rp. 100 billion.