Ministry of Forestry Halts Illegal Gold Mining in North Sulawesi Forest

The Ministry of Forestry has halted an illegal gold mining operation in a protected forest area in Bolaang Mongondow, North Sulawesi. The Director General of Forestry Law Enforcement, Dwi Januanto Nugroho, stated that the enforcement action aims not only to stop the violation but also to preserve the ecological function of the forest and deter future crimes. ‘Law enforcement does not stop at the field perpetrators. We will continue to develop the case to uncover the owners of the heavy equipment, the financiers, and those who gave the orders,’ he said in a statement in Jakarta on Sunday.

The case began with a public report, which was promptly verified by the Sulawesi Regional Forestry Law Enforcement Office in coordination with the local police, the military, and forest rangers. When the joint team arrived at the location, an excavator was actively digging for material inside the forest area. The operation was immediately stopped, and five individuals were detained at the scene.

Investigators have named two suspects: the excavator operator, identified as MAS, and the person in charge of the activity, identified as SH. One excavator was seized as evidence. The suspects are charged under Article 78 paragraph (3) in conjunction with Article 50 paragraph (2) letter a of Law Number 41 of 1999 on Forestry, as amended by the Job Creation Law. They face a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a fine of up to Rp7.5 billion. The investigation remains ongoing to identify other parties involved in the illegal mining operation.