13 Illegal Hikers Arrested on Mount Semeru, Four Others Still Sought

The Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park (TNBTS) has detained 13 people suspected of illegally climbing Mount Semeru in Lumajang, East Java. The arrests were made during surveillance operations at two locations, namely the Ranupani Resort Management Section and the Taman Satriyan Resort Management Section.

Of the 13 individuals detained, two were arrested in Ranupani, while the other 11 were apprehended in the Purbakala area, Mulyoasri Village, Ampelgading District, which falls within the Taman Satriyan area.

“The TNBTS Centre has secured 13 people suspected of conducting illegal hikes on Mount Semeru. The enforcement process was carried out through a surveillance operation conducted at the Ranupani RPTN in Lumajang Regency and the Taman Satriyan RPTN in Malang Regency,” said Head of TNBTS Rudijanta Tjahja Nugraha on Tuesday (16/6).

The 13 suspected illegal hikers are now undergoing examination and the official investigation report process by the Forestry Law Enforcement Agency for the Java, Bali, and Nusa Tenggara regions under the Ministry of Forestry.

Preliminary investigation results revealed that the two individuals arrested in Ranupani had dared to climb Semeru via an unofficial route known as ‘ayek-ayek’. They even attempted to evade the Registered Mount Semeru Hiking Guides (PPGST) during their descent, before fleeing into a plantation area.

However, their escape attempt failed. Local residents who noticed their movements quickly secured them and handed them over to TNBTS officers.

Meanwhile, the arrest of the 11 individuals in Taman Satriyan was a follow-up to patrols conducted by officers on a route suspected of being frequently used as an illegal access point for climbing Mount Semeru.

“The surveillance in Taman Satriyan was a follow-up to patrols and sweeps by officers on a route suspected of being used as an illegal access point to Mount Semeru. The 11 individuals were directed to descend for data collection and further examination,” he stated.

This surveillance operation is not yet over. TNBTS is currently pursuing four other illegal hikers suspected of having entered through the Purbakala area.

Meanwhile, TNBTS Public Relations Officer Endrip Wahyutama said that sanctions for the 13 individuals have not yet been determined, as the agency is still awaiting the outcome of the legal process from the Forestry Law Enforcement Agency for the Java, Bali, and Nusa Tenggara regions.

“Sanctions have not been decided yet; we will be informed by the law enforcement agency later,” he said.