Forest Enforcement Task Force Seizes Illegal Nickel Mining Operation of PT Mineral Trobos in North Maluku
Indonesia’s Forest Area Enforcement Task Force (Satgas PKH) has seized an illegal nickel mining operation belonging to PT Mineral Trobos in North Maluku province, owned by businessman David Glen Oei.
Satgas PKH spokesperson Barita Simanjuntak stated that the sealing of PT Mineral Trobos’s operational area was carried out due to suspected illegal mining activities in the forest zone.
“The task force is working to enforce regulations against illegal or unlawful forest area exploitation across all forest zones in Indonesia, including in North Maluku,” he told reporters on Friday (27 February).
Barita explained that the enforcement activities conducted by Satgas PKH include restoration of state control, administrative penalty collection, and asset recovery.
“In practice, restoration of state control is carried out by placing signs indicating that control has been restored by the state through the task force,” he said.
He emphasised that Satgas PKH operates with a measured, accountable and transparent system in accordance with Presidential Regulation (Perpres) No. 5 of 2025 on forest area enforcement and other legal provisions.
“Currently, the task force team is actively conducting comprehensive verification of alleged forest zone violations in the field,” he explained.
Barita further stated that all enforcement and sanctions by Satgas PKH are implemented to protect and safeguard every legal business activity in Indonesia’s forest zones in accordance with Perpres No. 5 of 2025.
“Enforcement action, as part of the task force’s authority, will certainly be carried out carefully, cautiously and professionally,” he said.
Previously, PT Mineral Trobos owner David Glen Oei was implicated in an alleged corruption case involving former North Maluku Governor Abdul Gani Kasuba. David, who is also the owner of Malut United football club, was previously questioned by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) in connection with the case.