Moments of Aceh Regional Police's Silent Operation Uncovering Illegal Gold Mining in Nagan Raya
Details have emerged regarding the silent operation conducted by the Aceh Regional Police to dismantle an illegal gold mining case in Nagan Raya. The operation has gone viral on social media, attracting significant attention and commentary from netizens.
Nagan Raya Police Chief, AKBP Muhammad Taufiq, explained that the Aceh Regional Police’s Special Criminal Investigation Directorate (Ditreskrimsus), alongside the Nagan Raya Police Criminal Investigation Unit, successfully uncovered and took action against suspected illegal gold mining (PETI) activities.
He stated that the crackdown on the illegal mine took place in the Karyan Village area, Beutting District, Nagan Raya Regency, in the early hours of Thursday (1/10/2026).
“This enforcement is part of the police commitment and efforts to prevent and take firm action against all forms of unauthorised mining activities,” he said.
“Furthermore, this is also being done to maintain environmental sustainability as well as public safety and order within the legal jurisdiction of Nagan Raya Regency,” AKBP Muhammad Taufiq emphasised.
Previously, reports circulated that this silent operation was led directly by the Deputy Director of Special Criminal Investigation of the Aceh Regional Police, AKBP Yasir Ahmadi, alongside the Nagan Raya Police Chief, AKBP Muhammad Taufiq, and accompanied by the Head of the Criminal Investigation Unit of the Nagan Raya Police, Muhammad Rizal.
The raid also involved the Head of the Sub-directorate for Economic, Social, and Environmental Crimes (Tipidter) and the Unit 1 Head of the Tipidter Sub-directorate of the Aceh Regional Police, with full support from the Head of Operations, Kompol Fajar Rahmat, the Head of Intelligence, AKP Fajar Harapan, and joint personnel from the Nagan Raya Police Criminal and Intelligence units.
The joint team began moving towards the operational target at approximately 01:30 WIB and arrived at the crime scene at 02:10 WIB.
Upon arrival at the location, officers found the illegal activities in progress and immediately secured several pieces of evidence and the workers involved.
At the illegal mining site, officers discovered a hut or camp believed to be used as a resting place for the workers.
In addition to the site, police seized two units of heavy machinery (Zoomlion excavators) and one unit of a traditional gold sieving tool (asbuk). Eight individuals present at the location, suspected of being directly involved in the unauthorised mining operations, were also taken into custody.
Beyond the heavy machinery and workers, officers also secured various supporting evidence, including gold production logs, two sieving units (indang), three gold sieving mats, documentation of the location’s coordinates, and several mobile phones belonging to the suspects.