Illegal Gold Mining in North Sulawesi's Limited Production Forest Halted, Two Named Suspects

The Directorate General of Law Enforcement for Forestry has halted an illegal gold mining operation in the Mobungayom Limited Production Forest area, Bolaang Mongondow, North Sulawesi. Director General of Law Enforcement for Forestry, Dwi Januanto Nugroho, stated that the action was taken after receiving reports of illegal mining activities within the forest area. Acting on this information, a joint team from the Ministry of Forestry, the military, and the police immediately moved to the location. Upon arrival, the team found mining activities still in progress, with an excavator actively digging for material and several workers on site. During the operation, a total of five individuals were apprehended: MAS, the excavator operator; APM, a helper; SH, the person in charge of the activity; RL, a supervisor; and NM, who was responsible for workers’ logistics. Following a case review, two of the individuals, MAS and SH, were named as suspects. They are charged under Article 78 paragraph (3) in conjunction with Article 50 paragraph (2) letter a of Law Number 41 of 1999 on Forestry, which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years’ imprisonment and a fine of up to IDR 7.5 billion. Dwi Januanto added that the investigation is ongoing to uncover the possible involvement of other parties in the illegal mining operation. As evidence, one excavator used in the mining activity was seized and removed from the forest area for investigative purposes. He emphasized that this law enforcement effort follows the directive of the Minister of Forestry, Raja Juli Antoni, to strengthen the protection of forest areas to preserve the sustainability of Indonesia’s natural resources. He concluded that enforcement against illegal activities aims not only to stop violations but also to maintain the ecological function of forest areas and prevent recurring damage.