Indonesian Forces Seize 2.5 Tons of Tin and Detain Illegal Gold Miners

The Indonesian Navy (TNI AL) halted an illegal tin-smuggling operation at Pelabuhan Pelindo Tanjung Pandan in Belitung, confiscating roughly 2.5 tonnes of dry tin ore and 34 tin bars weighing about 873 kg. The driver of the truck was detained for questioning, and the seized material was turned over to the Belitung prosecutor’s office for further investigation. "The arrest began after intelligence detected a suspicious truck convoy near the port," said First Admiral TNI Tunggul.

In a separate crackdown, joint TNI‑Police teams in Bombana, Southeast Sulawesi, dismantled an illegal gold‑mining site. Three suspects identified as HR (21), HKM (68) and ASB (37) were arrested and taken to the Sulawesi Tenggara police detention center. "From the examination of the seven detained persons, three were named as suspects," stated Dody Ruyatman, director of the criminal investigation unit.

Both operations underscore the Indonesian authorities’ effort to curb unlawful extraction and smuggling of natural resources.