Central Java Police Shut Down Illegal Sand and Andesite Quarry in Ungaran

SEMARANG — Central Java Police have shut down an illegal sand and andesite mining operation in Leyangan village, East Ungaran district, Semarang regency. The estimated state revenue protected by the closure is between Rp2.6 billion and Rp3.3 billion.

Central Java Police Chief Inspector General Roy Hardi Siahaan said the case began with information received by the force’s special crimes directorate, which officers followed up by visiting the site.

“When they checked the permits and related documents, the suspect or operator could not produce them,” Roy said at a press conference at the Central Java Police special crimes directorate headquarters in Semarang on Friday (16 October 2026).

Investigators found that mining had been taking place for more than a month. “As well as soil, they were also extracting andesite rock, and the operation had been running since early September 2026,” he said.

The value of the fill soil sold by the suspect over the previous month was estimated at Rp48 million, while andesite sales were put at around Rp40 million. Combined sales of the two materials during the month were therefore about Rp88 million.

Police have named one suspect, AP, aged 48. Several items of evidence were seized, including two excavators.

A site inspection found that the illegal sand and stone mining area covered 3.4782 hectares. With the cliff height and average mining depth estimated at 15 metres, the indicative geometric volume was calculated at 521,730 cubic metres, or around 52,173 truckloads.

“We have also sought to estimate the state revenue that has been protected. If the entire volume were eventually extracted, potential tax revenue would be approximately Rp2.61 billion to Rp3.3 billion,” Roy said.

AP has been charged under Article 158 of Law No. 3/2020, which amends Law No. 4/2009 on Mineral and Coal Mining. The offence carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a fine of up to Rp100 billion, Roy said.