Four Suspects Arrested for Illegal Gold Mining in Lampung; State Loses Rp1.3 Trillion
The Lampung Regional Police (Polda Lampung) have uncovered an illegal gold mining operation in Way Kanan district that is suspected of causing state losses of up to Rp1.3 trillion. In the enforcement operation, officers secured 24 people, with 14 of them designated as suspects.
Lampung Police Chief Inspector General Helfi Assegaf stated that uncovering this case demonstrates the authorities’ commitment to eradicating illegal mining activities that not only violate the law but also risk environmental damage and state losses.
“In the enforcement operation conducted by the Criminal Investigation Unit of Polda Lampung on Sunday (8 March), we successfully apprehended 24 people from an illegal gold mining site located on PTPN I Regional 7 land in Way Kanan district. From our investigations, 14 people have been designated as suspects, whilst 10 others remain witnesses under further examination,” Helfi stated in a written statement released on Wednesday (11 March 2026).
The enforcement operation took place across seven locations in Blambangan Umpu district, all within the cultivation rights area of PTPN VII, including areas around Sumatra Thoroughfare Road near Sungai Betih, Lembasung village, Martapura Thoroughfare Road at kilometre markers 6 and 9 in Blambangan Umpu, and several points along the Sungai Betih river.
During the operation, officers also secured heavy equipment and mining apparatus used for illegal mining activities. Evidence secured includes:
41 excavator units (7 units already secured at Polda Lampung, 2 units in transit, and 32 units still at the scene)
24 submersible pump units
47 jerrycans containing diesel fuel
17 two-wheeled vehicles
1 four-wheeled vehicle
Based on preliminary investigations, the illegal mining operation is believed to have been running for approximately 1.5 years over an area of some 200 hectares. Helfi revealed that when calculated from potential gold production, the illegal activity generated substantial profits.
He detailed that with an assumption of one machine producing five grammes of gold per day and approximately 315 machines in operation, total daily production is estimated to reach 1,575 grammes of gold per day.
“At gold prices around Rp1.8 million per gramme, the potential gross income from this illegal activity could reach approximately Rp2.8 billion per day or Rp73.7 billion per month,” he said.
Overall, the state’s potential loss from this illegal mining operation is estimated to exceed Rp1.3 trillion. The suspects face charges under Article 158 in conjunction with Article 35 of Law Number 3 of 2020 concerning Minerals and Coal, carrying a maximum prison sentence of 5 years and/or a maximum fine of Rp100 billion.
Helfi will coordinate with the Ministry of Environment and the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) to further calculate state losses and environmental damage from the use of hazardous chemicals such as mercury or cyanide in the gold processing operations.
He emphasised that the handling of this case would continue to be developed to uncover the possibility of other parties involved in the illegal mining operation.
“Polda Lampung is committed to taking firm action against all forms of illegal mining. We also urge the public not to become involved in unlicensed mining activities as it violates the law and damages the environment,” he stressed.
Polda Lampung also invited the public to play an active role by reporting any illegal mining activities in their area, as a form of collective participation in protecting environmental conservation and upholding law enforcement in Lampung Province.