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Indonesia illegal gold mining and smuggling crackdown

Updated 5 times since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

What changed

2026-08-25 03:02 UTC → 2026-09-05 15:11 UTC · added removed

Indonesia illegal gold mining and smuggling crackdown expands

Indonesia’s multi‑agency crackdown on illegal mineral extraction continued through August 2026. Navy forces halted an illegal tin‑smuggling convoy at Pelabuhan Pelindo Tanjung Pandan in Belitung, seizing about 2.5 tonnes of dry tin ore, ore and 34 tin bars (≈873 kg) and detaining the driver; the haul was turned over to the local prosecutor. bars. Joint TNI‑Police teams dismantled an unlawful gold‑mining site in Bombana, Southeast Sulawesi, arresting three suspects. In West Papua, while police conducted a three‑day raid raids in Manokwari’s Masni district, arresting six workers and seizing excavators, 28.2 g of gold, mercury Manokwari, West Papua, and processing equipment; authorities are pursuing a financier known only as “F” who fled the site. In North Sulawesi’s Bolaang Mongondow, a forestry‑law enforcement unit seized an excavator and detained five workers, charging the operator and supervisor under the Forest Law with up to ten years’ imprisonment. In Gorontalo, police secured a suspected gold‑mining pit in Bone Bolango, Sulawesi, seizing bags of material, carbon pipes, and drill bits. In Riau, six suspects were arrested in Kuantan Singingi with mining gear as part of a “Green Policing” drive. Former miner Febrianto “Anto” Tangahu denied ongoing involvement equipment and announced legal action against media reports. detaining workers. Investigations have also expanded to address increasingly focused on transnational smuggling networks. In Aceh, the arrest of a Chinese national attempting to smuggle 3 kg of gold bars highlighted a lack of oversight, as systemic oversight failures; none of the region's 27 mining licenses have reported official production despite widespread illegal activity. In West Sumatra, police arrested an Indian national involved in moving gold toward Malaysia. Malaysia, with reports indicating suspects have transitioned to acquiring approximately 1 kg of gold bars daily. Environmental groups groups, including Walhi Sumbar, warn these operations cause of severe ecological damage, including mercury pollution noting that unauthorized mining in West Sumatra has cleared roughly 1,100 hectares of forest and massive deforestation. contributed to over 50 deaths since 2012. In early September 2026, enforcement expanded to air transit hubs. North Sulawesi Regional Police intercepted two Chinese nationals at Sam Ratulangi International Airport attempting to smuggle 16 kg of gold bars to Singapore and Hong Kong. Additionally, authorities in Makassar are investigating a gold shop suspected of processing and selling gold without legal origin documentation, raising concerns regarding potential money laundering of criminal assets.

Versions

  1. 2026-09-05 15:11 UTC Indonesia illegal gold mining and smuggling crackdown
  2. 2026-08-25 03:02 UTC Indonesia illegal gold mining crackdown expands
  3. 2026-08-07 04:24 UTC Indonesia illegal gold mining crackdown expands
  4. 2026-07-30 04:32 UTC Indonesia illegal gold mining crackdown
  5. 2026-07-28 10:06 UTC Indonesia illegal gold mining crackdown
  6. 2026-07-26 02:27 UTC Indonesia illegal gold mining crackdown

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