Attorney General's Office Uncovers Manipulation of Lab Results to Smuggle Rare Earth Minerals
The Attorney General’s Office (Kejagung) has uncovered a scheme involving the manipulation of laboratory test results to facilitate the illegal export of rare earth minerals from Batam, Kepulauan Riau. Three suspects have been named in the case, including a company representative and two government officials.
Director of Investigation for the Junior Attorney General for Special Crimes, Syarief Sulaeman Nahdi, stated that the suspects conspired to ensure the prohibited minerals were not detected during testing. The representative of PT Putraprima Mineral (PMM), identified as IS, allegedly requested that the Head of the Pangkalpinang Sucofindo Service Unit, GP, manipulate the lab results.
“The aim was to ensure that the rare earth mineral content, which is on the list of strategic minerals prohibited for export, was not included in the laboratory test report,” Syarief explained to reporters in South Jakarta on Wednesday (8/7/2026).
GP is accused of accommodating the request by not conducting a comprehensive test on the samples sent by IS. Instead, GP only tested the top portion of the cargo in the jumbo bags, ensuring the rare earth content remained undetected. “GP knew that rare earth minerals have very high economic and strategic value and are prohibited for export, yet he unlawfully failed to conduct a comprehensive test,” Syarief added.
The third suspect, JK, who served as the Head of Customs and Excise in Pangkalpinang, allegedly issued export documents despite being aware that the shipment from PT PMM contained rare earth minerals. Due to the collusion between the company representative and the two officials, PT PMM was able to illegally export approximately 390 tonnes of material containing rare earth minerals.
The case came to light after the PKH Task Force inspected 25 containers at the Kodaeral IV Pier in Batam. The task force suspected legal violations after synchronising trade export documents. Jampidsus investigators and the task force, led by Kasum TNI Lieutenant General Richard Tampubolon, conducted a physical inspection of the containers on Tuesday (27/5), opening 15 of them to match the physical goods against the export documentation.