North Sumatra Police Secure 12 Excavators in Illegal Gold Mining Operation Spanning Mandailing Natal and South Tapanuli
Combined units from the Criminal Investigation Directorate (Ditkrimsus) and Mobile Brigade (Brimob) of North Sumatra Police successfully secured 12 excavators in a major enforcement operation against illegal gold mining in the border region between Mandailing Natal (Madina) and South Tapanuli (Tapsel) regencies on Monday, 2 March.
The large-scale operation was conducted in response to public reports transmitted via viral video regarding illegal mining activity in the area known as the “grey area”.
Commander of the Mobile Brigade Unit, Senior Police Commissioner Rantau Isnur Eka, explained that the deployment of personnel in the field was pursuant to hierarchical instructions from the top leadership of the National Police (Polri).
“Direct orders from the National Police Chief through the North Sumatra Police Chief, and we were directed by the Mobile Brigade Commander regarding the viral video of illegal mining in the grey area between Madina and Tapsel,” Rantau stated at the illegal gold mining enforcement site.
The team’s effort to reach the location proved extremely challenging due to extreme terrain and difficult access for conventional vehicles. After conducting mapping and tracking for several hours, Brimob and Ditkrimsus personnel had to undertake an infantry-style trek on foot for more than 12 hours.
Meanwhile, the breakthrough team utilising two-wheeled vehicles required approximately three and a half hours, as only off-road specification vehicles were capable of traversing the route.
The arduous effort proved fruitful, with dozens of heavy equipment used for illegal activities secured.
Senior Police Commissioner Rantau Isnur Eka confirmed the combined team’s success in securing the assets along with several suspects.
“Alhamdulillah, thank God, we secured 12 excavators and several suspects, each with their own role. The detailed investigation will not be conducted by us in Brimob, but by the Criminal Investigation Directorate of North Sumatra Police,” he stated.
Although the operation was detected by the perpetrators, the alertness of field personnel ensured that their escape attempts failed.
Rantau acknowledged suspicions of information leakage during the early morning operation that caused mining workers to scatter and flee towards Madina.
However, pursuit continued until all target heavy equipment was brought under officers’ control.
“When we conducted the early morning operation, there was apparently some leakage of information. They scattered, fleeing across to Madina. However, we pursued them, which is why we managed to secure ten on the other side, two excavators on the other side, making a total of 12 excavators,” Rantau stated.
Currently, all 12 excavators as evidence have been handed over to the Criminal Investigation Directorate of North Sumatra Police for investigation and further development of the case.