Illegal Gold Mine in Bogor Uncovered, Perpetrators Profit Rp5 Billion per Month

The Directorate of Special Criminal Investigation (Ditreskrimsus) of the West Java Police has dismantled an illegal gold mining operation in Leuwiliang and Nanggung subdistricts, Bogor Regency. The mine had been operating for several years and generated billions of rupiah.

Dirkrimsus of West Java Police, Commissioner Pol. Wirdhanto Hadicaksono, stated that the illegal gold mining practice in Bogor, with billions in turnover, was uncovered during March–April. He said four individuals have been named as suspects with initials M, EM, MNL, and HMA in the case.

“The results of the enforcement we carried out this March include the uncovering of an illegal gold mining syndicate in Bogor Regency,” he said, accompanied by the Head of Public Relations of West Java Police, Commissioner Pol. Hendra Rochmawan, on Thursday (30/4/2026).

He explained that his team successfully arrested four suspects with varying roles. Suspect M supplied soil and rocks containing gold and processed them.

Dirkrimsus stated that some of the materials were sold, while others were processed into jendil containing mineral metals such as gold, silver, and others. The jendil weighed between half a gram and two and a half grams.

Subsequently, M sold the jendil to EM, who had been operating since 2025, for processing into bullion. The authorities seized 7.2 grams of jendil from EM, purchased at Rp8 million. If sold with 41 percent purity, each gram could fetch Rp1.2 million.

He continued that EM sold the bullion to MNL, who processed it into gold bars. MNL, operating since 2020, lacked an industrial business permit. The purified gold was cast into bars ranging from 25 grams to 100 grams.

Then, MNL sold to a collector, who is his father, HMA. The gold produced in a month averaged 2 to 3 kilograms.

“MNL sought profits of 2 percent from the finished jewellery and 1 percent from the bullion,” he said.

Additionally, MNL sold 389.69 grams of gold to his father, HMA, for Rp979 million. HMA owns a gold and silver jewellery trading kiosk in a Bogor market to disguise the illegal activities.

“Based on the suspects’ statements, one month could yield profits of up to Rp5 billion from sales of 2–2.5 kilograms per month,” he said.

The perpetrators are charged under Article 158 of Law No. 3 of 2020 amending Law No. 4 of 2009 on Mineral and Coal Mining, with a maximum penalty of five years’ imprisonment.