Maluku Police Reveal Smuggling 3.1 Tons Of Mercury

PHOTO VIA BETWEEN

AMBON - The Maluku Regional Police through the Directorate of Special Criminal Investigation (Ditreskrimsus) managed to uncover the smuggling of illegal and dangerous mercury mining materials weighing approximately 3.1 tons or 3,100 kilograms. Maluku Regional Police Public Relations Commissioner M. Roem Ohoirat quoted by Antara, Tuesday, May 24.'

This dangerous metal chemical was secured by the investigator team in a DE 8169 MU dump truck that passed in front of the Nunusaku Center Building, Piru Village, West Seram Regency (SBB), since Monday (23/5) around 00.30 WIT.

In addition to securing thousands of kilograms of mercury, investigators also arrested three suspects, namely Agus Pardila (22), a truck driver who lives in Air Pesy Hamlet, Piru District, SBB, Dani Herawan (23), and property owner Rosi Wikarno alias Mas Idi (36). , a resident of Wael Hamlet, Piru.

The three have now been thrown into the Maluku Regional Police detention house after being suspected of violating Article 161 of RI Law No. 3 of 2020 concerning mineral and coal mining as amended in Law No. 11 of 2020 concerning Junto Job Creation Article 55 paragraph (1). to 1e of the Criminal Code.

Roem said the motives of the suspects were seeking profit and enriching themselves. This is done by conducting or participating in collecting, transporting, storing, and selling mercury-type metal materials without a permit.

The spokesman for the Maluku Regional Police said that the mercury smuggling was revealed when the investigation team received information about the transportation of this dangerous chemical in the amount of 2 tons (2,000 kg).

"A moment later, a dump truck passed by in front of the Nunusaku Center Building. The team immediately stopped him and checked the identity of the driver and his partner," said Roem.

After checking the identities of the two initial suspects, Agus and Dani, the team then searched the car. The result, found 109 5 liter jerry cans filled with mercury.

"When the team asked, the two suspects confirmed that they were ordered by Mas Idi to take them to his house as the owner of the 109 jerry cans containing mercury," he said.

The two suspects were then taken away with a truck filled with mercury to the SBB Police Headquarters, then taken to the Maluku Police Ditreskrimsus office in Ambon City.

"From the results of the examination, the two suspects admitted to participating in the collection, transportation, storage, and sale of mercury-type metal materials without a permit," he explained.

After securing the two suspects, the investigation team of Sub-Directorate IV of the Maluku Police Ditreskrimsus again moved to investigate Rosi Wikarno alias Mas Idi as the owner of mercury. He was later arrested at his home.

After being secured and examined, Mas Idi then took out 15 jerry cans measuring 5 liters filled with mercury from his son's room.

"The total mercury that was secured by the investigation team of Sub-Directorate IV of the Maluku Police Ditreskrimsus was approximately 3,100 kg of mercury," he said.

Based on the suspect's confession, the illegal business has been involved in the illegal business from 2020 to May 2022. A total of 14 transactions have been carried out with a total of 19 tons of mercury shipped.

"In this case, if there are other suspects who are involved jointly, the same legal action will be taken and made into a separate case file," said Roem.