Police Raid Illegal Gold Mining In Sarolangun Jambi, 6 Ships Seized

Enforcement of illegal gold mining in Sarolangun Regency, Jambi, Tuesday (9/5/2023). (ANTARA/HO)

JAMBI - Sarolangun Police, Jambi raided gold mining without a permit (PETI) and secured six ships used for illegal gold mining activities.

The raid on the eradication of PETI was led directly by the Sarolangun Police Chief AKBP Imam Rachman. The raid was carried out around the Batang Asai River, Sroli Pelang Village, Sarolangun District, Sarolangun Regency on Tuesday (9/5).

"We found several dompeng or tools commonly used to carry out PETI activities," said Sarolangun Police Chief AKBP Imam Rachman as quoted by ANTARA, Wednesday, May 10.

However, upon arrival at the location, the Sarolangun Police Chief said that the police did not find any of the perpetrators of the PETI.

Allegedly, these perpetrators were aware of the arrival of police officers and fled.

This action, he said, was an effort by the Sarolangun Police to eradicate illegal activities, especially PETIs that were still happening in the area.

Imam said that when he arrived at the PETI location, his party found that six units of the ship had been modified which were used for PETI activities on the banks of the Batang Asai River in Sri Pelang Village, Sarolangun District, Sarolangun Regency.

For the evidence that was secured at the location, namely PETI (dompeng) activity equipment in the form of one NS unit, three Carpets, three keca hoses and one spiral pipe.

Furthermore, the Sarolangun Police conducted an investigation into the owner of the modified ship (ketek) used for illegal gold mining activities.

Imam appealed to the public not to carry out illegal activities such as PETI, because it would have a negative impact on the environment and nature.

The impact of PETI's activities, one of which is genetic defects from the impact of heavy metal mercy, especially since the people in the Batang Asai river still use a lot of river water for their daily needs.

It also damages river ecosystems such as fish contaminated with mercy, thus damaging nature and subsequent human descendants.