Bringing Soil Samples from a Mine in Gorontalo, Four Chinese Nationals Deported

The Class I TPI Immigration Office in Gorontalo deported four foreign nationals (WNA) from China due to their stay permits not matching their activities. The four individuals are DA, CC, and FG.

They were caught carrying soil samples allegedly from a mining location in Buol Regency, Central Sulawesi.

“The Class I TPI Immigration Office in Gorontalo carried out administrative immigration actions in the form of deportation against four foreign nationals of Chinese nationality,” said the Head of the Class I TPI Immigration Office in Gorontalo, Josua Pahala Martua, as reported by detikSulsel on Wednesday (22/4/2026).

Josua explained that the four Chinese nationals initially arrived in Indonesia using visitor visas and business visas. They came to Gorontalo for a visit and then continued their journey to Buol.

“They arrived in Indonesia and landed in Jakarta on 3 April and 5 April 2026. They travelled together to Gorontalo, landing there on 6 April. Then they continued to Buol, staying there for three days, and on 9 April they returned to Gorontalo,” he said.

The four Chinese nationals, along with evidence consisting of passports, stay permits, and soil samples, were secured at a hotel in Gorontalo City on Saturday (11/4). After examination, they were found to have committed violations and were immediately deported on Tuesday (21/4).

“From the examination results, we found immigration violations where the stay permits they held did not match the activities they carried out. They were carrying several soil samples stored in white bags, and the soil is suspected to be from the Buol Regency mining area in Central Sulawesi,” he clarified.