Bangka Police Joint Team Apprehend Thieves of 538 Tin Ingots

A joint team from the Bangka Police, Bangka Belitung Islands Province, has successfully apprehended suspects involved in the theft of 538 tin ingots. The stolen goods, which were the result of smelting at a private company’s facility in the Jelitik area of Sungailiat, Bangka, are valued at billions of rupiah.

Bangka Police Chief, AKBP Deddy Dwitiya Putra, stated in Sungailiat on Monday that the joint team—comprising the Criminal Investigation Unit of the Bangka Belitung Islands Regional Police and the West Bangka Police Operational Unit—arrested suspects identified by the initials RI, AN, AW, FS, and BS. The operation also recovered 538 tin ingots weighing several dozen tonnes, with an estimated value in the billions of rupiah.

“The suspects were apprehended at Tanjung Kalian Port in Mentok, suspected of attempting to flee to South Sumatra via a ferry service, on Sunday (17/5),” he explained.

Officers also secured evidence including 538 silver-coloured tin ingots and cash amounting to Rp768,000,000. All suspects and the evidence have been taken to the Bangka Police Headquarters for further investigation and development of the case.

According to the Police Chief, the incident occurred on the night of Saturday (16/5). The suspects allegedly committed robbery with violence, holding five night guards hostage at the PT PMP facility. The victims’ hands and feet were tied, and their eyes were covered with adhesive tape, before the suspects fled with the dozens of tonnes of tin ingots.

The case has been formally registered under Police Report Number: LP/B-113/V/2026/SPKT/POLRES BANGKA/POLDA BANGKA BELITUNG, dated 17 May 2026, regarding the crime of robbery as stipulated in Article 479 of the Indonesian Criminal Code. “The perpetrators will face criminal sanctions in accordance with applicable laws,” concluded the Police Chief.