After Maluku, Government Targets Illegal Miners in Palu and East Kalimantan
The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) has mapped out several regions across Indonesia to be targeted for the enforcement of laws against illegal mining (PETI), expanding on a successful pilot project in Gunung Botak, Maluku. Director General of Law Enforcement at the Ministry of ESDM, Rilke Jeffri Huwae, explained that the government is targeting illegal mining spots from Sulawesi to Kalimantan, with execution to be carried out in stages based on effectiveness and impact. “There are spots that have been determined. We have done the pilot project today, and tomorrow we will do it in other places. It could be in Manado, Palu, East Kalimantan, or Palembang,” he said in Ambon, Maluku, on Friday (26/6/2026).
He stressed that the choice of location for future illegal mining enforcement will be based on the magnitude of the ‘breakthrough’ effect generated by actions in previous areas. The government hopes to restore ecosystems and save potential state revenue lost to illegal activities. “We will start from the east so we don’t go against the laws of nature. The sun rises in the east and sets in the west. But which spot we choose will depend on the level of damage,” he stated. In its execution, the directorate is prioritising a more modern and flexible law enforcement method over conservative patterns, focusing on targeting the financiers or capital providers of illegal mining activities to deliver a more significant impact in breaking the chain of illegal practices.
“If we only look at current enforcement actions, arresting hundreds of these small-scale miners has no effect. Therefore, we return to the basic principles. Mining is capital intensive, so the focus must be on the capital, the financiers,” he explained. However, the government will not ignore the illegal miners who depend on these activities for their livelihoods, with solutions to be provided based on local social and cultural conditions. The state will be present to provide legal certainty and access to a legal economy. “Enforcement cannot be without a solution. We must look at the social and cultural conditions there so that when the state is present, it is not just to punish people but also to provide solutions,” he asserted.
In the Gunung Botak case, the Directorate General of Law Enforcement has named 26 suspects for alleged illegal gold mining crimes, comprising 24 Chinese nationals and 2 Indonesian citizens. The suspects are believed to have been involved in building access roads, processing facilities, and establishing a gold refining laboratory at the site. Currently, one Indonesian suspect is detained at the Bareskrim Polri detention centre, one Indonesian suspect has not been detained, 12 foreign nationals are detained in Ambon, and the remaining 12 foreign nationals are outside Indonesian jurisdiction and have been placed on a wanted list. The suspects are charged under Article 158 of the Mineral and Coal Mining Law, which carries penalties for illegal mining and opening land in protected forest areas. The Maluku Regional Secretary, Sadali Ie, expressed support for the legal process, noting that the handling of the case is backed by regulations issued by the Governor of Maluku, and expressed hope that the eradication of illegal gold mining at Gunung Botak would have a positive impact on the local community and boost economic growth.