Illegal Cyanide Business Worth Rp769 Billion Uncovered, Supplied to Illegal Gold Miners Across 3 Provinces

The Directorate of Special Economic Crimes (Dittipideksus) of the Indonesian National Police’s Criminal Investigation Agency (Bareskrim) has uncovered an illicit trade in sodium cyanide destined for unlicensed gold miners (PETI). The scale of the operation is substantial, with investigators estimating total transactions reached Rp769.9 billion, involving 840.1 tonnes of the chemical circulated over the last two years. The investigation revealed that the network allegedly distributed 16,802 drums of sodium cyanide illegally between 2024 and 2026 to various regions hosting illegal gold mining activities. Brigadier General Ade Safri Simanjuntak, Director of Special Economic Crimes at Bareskrim, stated that the sheer volume of distribution indicates the practice was carried out systematically. Investigators identified the largest distribution hub as a location in the Kebon Jeruk area of West Jakarta, from which 16,357 drums of cyanide, valued at approximately Rp749.31 billion, were allegedly marketed since 2024. Meanwhile, a suspect identified as DW, operating in Kalideres, West Jakarta, is believed to have been trading for about 18 months since November 2024, allegedly distributing 270 drums worth around Rp13.1 billion. Another suspect, S alias U, operating from Pondok Gede, Bekasi, allegedly began the business in December 2025, with investigators recording 175 drums worth approximately Rp8.4 billion traded from that location. Ade Safri assessed that the pattern suggests the business was not conducted sporadically but rather in a structured and continuous manner. The investigation is now expanding beyond naming suspects, with Bareskrim tracing the flow of funds from the hazardous chemical trade. The agency is collaborating with the Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (PPATK) to uncover the possibility of other parties profiting from the illegal enterprise.