Banten Police Uncover 7 Illegal Mining Operations in 3 Months, 6 Named as Suspects

Banten Regional Police have uncovered seven illegal mining cases over a three-month period. Six people have been named as suspects.

Director of Special Criminal Investigation at Banten Police, Senior Commissioner Yudhis Wibisana, said that from June to August 2026, there were six cases of class C excavation and one case of gold mining.

“Six cases involve class C mining (fill soil), and one case involves gold mining or processing in Lebak Regency,” Yudhis said on Thursday (20/8/2026).

“The class C mining activities were carried out by the perpetrators in the regencies of Tangerang, Serang, and Lebak,” he said.

In the class C excavation cases, the mining activities did not have mining permits. Police have seized nine excavators used at the illegal mining sites.

“The activities were not equipped with mining permit documents. The modus operandi was to carry out class C mining activities at unlicensed mining locations to obtain profit without processing mining permits,” he said.

In these cases, Banten Police have named six people as suspects. They are JN (36), MF (34), AM (30), DN (28), RD (40), and AS (46).

They are charged under Articles 158 and 161 of Law Number 3 of 2020 on Mineral and Coal Mining, which carry a maximum penalty of five years.

Meanwhile, for the illegal gold mining case, Banten Police are handling a case of gold processing and refining activities in Lebak Gedong, Lebak Regency.

“The perpetrator carried out the activities using gold processing equipment such as gelundung, gembosan, and kowi. The gold processing and refining activities were carried out without permits,” he said.

In this case, Banten Police have not yet named a suspect. However, one person is still under investigation and being pursued.

“There is one suspected perpetrator who is still in the investigation process and is currently being pursued by investigators,” he said.