Illegal Gold Mine Sealed by KPK Reactivates, NTB ESDM Department Reports to Central Government
An illegal gold mine in Bukit Lendak Bare, Buwun Mas Village, Sekotong Subdistrict, West Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB), which was sealed by a Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) team on 4 October 2024, is suspected of becoming active again.
In a 21-second video received by detikBali, several residents are seen engaging in mining activities at the former site sealed by the KPK. Some miners are actively sucking up rock material that is extracted into gold ore.
Head of the NTB Provincial Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) Department, Samsudin, stated that he has viewed the video of mining activities at the former illegal gold mine sealed by the KPK. According to him, preventing illegal mining activities is difficult.
“That falls under the jurisdiction of law enforcement agencies. We have coordinated with West Lombok Regency to monitor it,” he said on Monday (30/3/2026).
If the area is in a forest zone, Samsudin said he would request the local Environmental Agency to conduct monitoring to prevent the illegal gold mining activities from spreading.
“We request it to be checked, so it doesn’t spread; at minimum, it should be monitored,” he said.
Samsudin explained that the NTB Provincial Government will also coordinate with the Anti-Corruption Commission and the Law Enforcement Team at the Forestry Ministry to conduct field checks.
“This area is currently under legal proceedings. If necessary, we will report it to the ministry if there is further activity there,” he emphasised.
According to him, illegal mining activities in an area still under legal proceedings cannot be handled by the NTB ESDM Department. Because the case is being handled by the Law Enforcement Unit of the Ministry of Environment.
“So we request a re-check. Because this is under their authority,” Samsudin stressed.
Previously, the KPK, along with the Security and Law Enforcement Agency for the Environment and Forestry in the Java, Bali, and Nusa Tenggara Region (Jabal Nusra), and the NTB Environment and Forestry Agency (DLHK), cracked down on the illegal gold mine in Sekotong Subdistrict, West Lombok, on Friday (4/10/2024). Officers installed banners at the location.
Head of the Task Force for Coordination and Supervision (Korsup) Region V of the KPK, Dian Patria, explained that the illegal mining activities in the limited production forest area (HPT) are suspected to have started since 2021. The illegal mine is estimated to generate turnover of up to Rp 90 billion per month or around Rp 1.08 trillion per year. This figure comes from three stockpiles at one gold mining site in the Sekotong area.
“This is just one location with three stockpiles, and we know there might be more nearby. Not to mention those in Lantung, Dompu, and West Sumbawa—how much per month? It could amount to trillions in losses for the state,” Dian said after conducting field support and directly inspecting the illegal mining site in Sekotong on Friday morning (4/10/2024).
Dian also revealed suspicions of a collusion scheme between holders of mining business permits (IUP) and illegal mine operators. Although the area has an official mining permit from PT Indotan Lombok Barat Bangkit (ILBB), the presence of the illegal mine has been allowed to continue. In fact, the ILBB IUP signboard was only installed in August 2024 after years of the mine operating.