Foreign Tourists Caught with Drone While Hiking Rinjani, TNGR Prepares Strict Sanctions

Two foreign tourists were caught carrying a drone while hiking Mount Rinjani in Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara. The Mount Rinjani National Park Authority (TNGR) is preparing strict sanctions against the trekking organisers (TO) that accompanied them.

Head of Section (Kasi) for Region II at TNGR, Ma’ruf Hadi, stated that the violation was discovered by officers in the Pelawangan Sembalun campsite area. He noted that the two foreign tourists came from different TOs.

“So, the info is from yesterday, Saturday, our colleagues at Pelawangan found two foreigners carrying a drone. The drone was immediately secured,” explained Ma’ruf on Monday (13/4/2026).

In addition to the drone, officers also seized an active speaker brought by another visitor. Ma’ruf emphasised that both items are prohibited in the Mount Rinjani area.

“Including those active speakers, you can’t bring musical instruments up there. Everything was confiscated, secured, and brought down by officers to the Sembalun Resort, and a special report was made. After the individuals descend, the items will be returned,” clarified Ma’ruf.

Ma’ruf stated that the ban on drone use in the TNGR area is already known to all TOs. Therefore, they will summon the involved TOs for questioning at the TNGR office in Mataram.

“Actually, all TOs already know the rules, so we will call them to the office in Mataram to ask for explanations, and what the sanctions will be—whether a warning letter or blacklisting—that decision will come from the Coaching Working Group,” said Ma’ruf.

He stressed that TNGR will not tolerate violations in the conservation area. Strict sanctions will be imposed to prevent it from becoming a habit.

“Clearly, there will be strict sanctions to create a deterrent effect. If left unchecked, this could become a new modus operandi—pay if caught, feel free if not—that’s what we don’t want,” added Ma’ruf.

Ma’ruf explained that the drone ban aims to protect the wildlife and ecosystem in the TNGR area. Drone use is only permitted with special permission.

“The purpose is clear: to protect the wildlife in the area, and also, so far, drone videos are uploaded to various social media platforms with various purposes, including commercial ones. Therefore, a survey and special permission are required first, along with paying a non-tax state revenue (PNBP) fee of Rp 2 million,” concluded Ma’ruf.