Aceh Police Arrest 4 Suspected Perpetrators Of Illegal Gold Mining

JAKARTA - The Unit IV Team of the Sub-Directorate of Certain Crimes of the Special Criminal Investigation Directorate of the Aceh Police arrested four suspected perpetrators of illegal gold mining in the Geumpang area, Pidie Regency.

Director of the Special Criminal Investigation of the Aceh Police, Kombes Pol Winardy in Banda Aceh, Saturday, August 5, said that apart from arresting the four suspected perpetrators, the team also confiscated one unit of heavy equipment type excavator.

"The four people were arrested while mining gold without a permit in Alue Kumara, Pulo Lhoih Village, Geumpang District, Pidie Regency, Aceh Province," said Winardy, quoted from Antara.

The four suspected illegal mining actors are AG (24), KD (26), MT (38), and AA (25). The alleged perpetrators along with the excavator and other evidence were secured at the Aceh Regional Police.

The middle officer of the Aceh Police said that the disclosure of illegal gold mining was based on public information on Wednesday, August 2, because people were restless about mining that damaged the environment.

Based on this information, the Unit IV team of the Sub-Directorate of Certain Crimes of the Special Criminal Investigation Directorate of the Aceh Police, supported by Pidie Police personnel, investigated by visiting the mining site.

Officers found heavy equipment dredging soil and rocks at the mining site. The dredging results were included in the Asbuk device with the aim of separating gold from sand or soil rocks. After being examined, the activity was not accompanied by official documents.

"Furthermore, the team stopped the mining and secured heavy equipment and four people at the mine site," said Winardy accompanied by the Head of Sub-Directorate IV for Certain Crimes at the Directorate of Special Criminal Investigation of the Aceh Police.

He said investigators would apply Article 158 of Law of the Republic of Indonesia number 3 of 2020 concerning Amendments to Law number 4 of 2009 concerning minerals and coal in conjunction with Article 55 Paragraph 1 of the Criminal Code.

"We urge the public to support law enforcement carried out by the police to save the environment from illegal mining, because illegal mining can have a negative impact on the environment," said Winardy.