Indonesian Navy Foils Multi-Trillion Rupiah Illegal Rare Earth Export

The Indonesian Navy (TNI AL), through the Fleet Command (Koarmada) RI, has foiled an attempt to smuggle strategic raw minerals, Rare Earth Elements (REE), valued at trillions of rupiah, in the waters off Batam, Riau Islands. The cargo was transported by the tugboat TB Capricorn 106 and the barge TK Capricorn 92.210; upon inspection, it was found to contain REE as well as other hazardous radioactive elements. Quoting a press release from the Navy Information Service received on Wednesday (10/6), the interdiction took place in mid-May. ‘This action began on 16 May 2026 while on patrol, KRI Kujang-642, under the operational control (BKO) of the Fleet Security Task Force (Guskamla) of Fleet Command I, detected the movement of TB Capricorn 106 and TK Capricorn 92.210 in the strategic border waters of Batam,’ the Navy’s statement read. ‘After being stopped and inspected, officers secured a cargo which, based on an initial examination, is suspected to be among goods prohibited for export, packed in dozens of containers suspected of carrying items intended to be exported unlawfully,’ the statement continued. The cargo aboard the two vessels is suspected of being prohibited for export under Law Number 7 of 2014 on Trade and the list of goods stipulated in the Appendix of Minister of Trade Regulation Number 22 of 2023, as last amended by Minister of Trade Regulation Number 6 of 2026. The detailed content of the goods and their criminal status will be determined by laboratory results, customs documents, and the investigation conducted by the Navy together with the Junior Attorney General for Special Crimes (Jampidsus) at the Indonesian Attorney General’s Office. In addition, the tugboat is also suspected of committing shipping violations as regulated in Law Number 17 of 2008 on Shipping, as amended by Law Number 66 of 2024 concerning the Third Amendment to Law Number 17 of 2008. The Navy stressed that this success is a concrete manifestation of the readiness and intelligence acumen of its soldiers in the field, as well as excellent synergy between government agencies. The Navy also confirmed that the activities of detecting, stopping, inspecting, and securing the vessel along with its cargo were carried out with due regard to the legal regime of the sea based on the 1982 UNCLOS. ‘In addition to adhering to UNCLOS 1982 as the international maritime legal framework, the execution of TNI AL duties in maritime law enforcement is also regulated in Article 9 paragraph (1) letter b of Law Number 3 of 2025 concerning the Amendment to Law Number 34 of 2004 concerning the Indonesian National Military,’ it stated.