Central Sulawesi Police seize dozens of heavy equipment in Buol over suspected illegal gold mining

Central Sulawesi Regional Police (Polda Sulteng) have seized 22 units of heavy equipment in Bodi Village, West Paleleh District, Buol Regency, in connection with suspected unlicensed gold mining (PETI).

“All the heavy equipment has now been secured and entrusted to Buol Police as found items,” said Central Sulawesi Police Head of Public Relations, Senior Commissioner Achmad Muhaimin, in Palu on Friday.

Achmad said the equipment was discovered by the Central Sulawesi Police Special Crimes Sub-Directorate team after receiving public reports regarding suspected illegal gold mining activity in the area.

“We are examining a number of witnesses, including the Head of Bodi Village, to help determine the origin of the heavy equipment and whether it is connected to illegal mining activity or not,” he said.

According to him, officers did not find any PETI activity when the heavy equipment was discovered. The location was also not far from the area reported as a suspected illegal mining site.

“So indeed no PETI activity was found, and the heavy equipment was located not far from that site,” he said.

“We cannot yet conclude whether there is a direct link between the heavy equipment found and the suspected PETI in Buol Regency,” he added.