Banten Police uncover seven illegal mining operations in three months

Serang (ANTARA) - Banten Regional Police have uncovered seven cases of illegal mining offences in their jurisdiction between June and August 2026, naming six people as suspects.

Head of Public Relations of Banten Police, Senior Commissioner Maruli Ahiles Hutapea, said in Serang on Thursday that the enforcement action demonstrates the police’s commitment to eradicating unlicensed mining.

“There have been many voices outside saying that Banten Police have not taken action against illegal mining activities. Today we are proving that Banten Police are working to the fullest and will not allow such activities to occur in our jurisdiction,” said Maruli.

Director of Special Criminal Investigation of Banten Police, Senior Commissioner Yudhis Wibisana, said the seven cases are spread across Tangerang, Serang and Lebak regencies.

He detailed that six cases involve class C quarry mining in the form of fill soil, while one other case involves illegal gold processing and refining in the Lebak Gedong area of Lebak Regency.

One other suspected perpetrator remains at large. Police also seized nine excavator units, waybills, sales recaps, gold-bearing rocks, and a set of gold processing equipment.

“In practice, the class C quarry mining activities were carried out without mining permit documents. As for the gold processing, the perpetrators used raw materials from unlicensed locations processed using equipment such as trommels, blowers and crucibles,” said Yudhis.

The suspects face a maximum prison sentence of five years and fines of up to Rp100 billion.

Banten Police urged the public to help monitor mining activities in their surroundings and report suspected illegal mining through the toll-free National Police Call Centre 110.