Indonesian Ministry of Forestry busts illegal mine in NTB, arrests eight

Authorities have dismantled an illegal mining operation within the Tanjung Tampa Nature Tourism Park in West Nusa Tenggara, arresting eight people suspected of involvement. The joint operation, involving the Ministry of Forestry, the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI), the National Police (Polri), and the Natural Resources Conservation Center (BKSDA), targeted the illicit transport of materials from the protected area.

During the operation, officials seized 157 sacks of rocks believed to contain gold, along with a dump truck, a pickup vehicle, and other equipment used in the illegal activities. Dwi Januanto Nugroho, Director General of Law Enforcement at the Ministry of Forestry, stated that the bust revealed a suspected route for transporting mining materials from the conservation area via both sea and land.

"The materials were allegedly transported using wooden boats from near the mining site, then transferred to land vehicles to be taken to another location," Nugroho explained. The investigation is now focused on tracing the entire supply chain, from the extraction of materials within the conservation zone to identifying those who receive and profit from the illegal mining operations. The case came to light following public reports about vehicles repeatedly transporting sacks of rock from the Gunung Prabu area.

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In this operation, the team secured eight people suspected of being involved in transporting materials, 157 sacks of gold-bearing rocks, one dump truck, one pickup vehicle, and other evidence used in these activities.

Following up on these reports, officers monitored the suspected loading and unloading points. They observed the transfer of materials from wooden boats to dump trucks and pickup vehicles on the coast of Kuta Village. After the vehicles departed, the team pursued and intercepted them in Ketara Village, Pujut District. The seized sacks of rocks are believed to contain gold. All arrested individuals and evidence have been handed over to the West Java, Bali, and Nusa Tenggara Forest Law Enforcement Center for further legal proceedings.

Nugroho added that investigators are still determining the roles of each individual, the origin of the materials, ownership of the transport vehicles, the destination of the shipments, and the potential involvement of other parties who may have ordered, financed, received, or profited from the illegal mining. The perpetrators face charges under Law No. 18 of 2013 concerning the Prevention and Eradication of Forest Destruction, as amended.

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The materials were allegedly transported using wooden boats from near the mining site, then transferred to land vehicles to be taken to another location.