Forestry Enforcement Directorate of the Ministry of Environment and Forestry Detains Financier Behind Illegal Mining in Kutai National Park

Jakarta (ANTARA) — The Directorate General of Law Enforcement (Gakkum) of the Ministry of Environment and Forestry (Kemenhut) has questioned the financier of mining within the Kutai National Park forest area, identified by initials AF, and has named him as a suspect. In a statement confirmed from Jakarta on Wednesday, Leonardo Gultom, head of the Kalimantan Regional Forestry Law Enforcement Centre (Gakkum) of the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, explained that AF was questioned for his role as the financier of quarrying in the Kutai National Park area in East Kalimantan, using heavy equipment in the form of excavators. “We will continue to enforce the law regarding quarrying in Kutai National Park and urge investigators to develop the case to probe other individuals involved in the activity of quarrying in Kutai National Park,” he said. “Efforts to enforce the law against illegal activities within conservation areas will continue consistently to deter and protect forest areas from illegal mining activities that cause ecological damage,” he added. He explained that the case began with a joint patrol to secure the area, which found a former quarry hole within Kutai National Park on 17 December 2025. After investigation, the team found six heavy machines in the form of excavators at three different locations around the scene. Following coordination with the East Kalimantan High Prosecutor’s Office and a case development session of the investigation results with the East Kalimantan Regional Police’s Directorate of Special Criminal Investigation, the handling of the case was escalated to prosecution and AF was named as a suspect. For his role in illegal mining within the national park, the suspect AF faces a maximum penalty of 10 years’ imprisonment and a fine of up to Rp5 billion.