PKH Task Force and Forestry Ministry Investigate Alleged Illegal Gold Mining in Nabire Forest Area
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Forestry Ministry (Kemenhut), as part of the Forest Area Control Task Force (Satgas PKH), continues to investigate allegations of unlicensed gold mining (PETI) in Nabire Regency, Central Papua.
In a statement confirmed by Rudianto Saragih Napitu, Director of Forest Criminal Enforcement at the Forestry Ministry, on Wednesday, the investigation targets suspected illegal mining conducted in a structured manner around KM 95 Unipo, Siriwo District, where 10 units of heavy equipment, one worker camp, two operator huts, and seven Chinese foreign nationals were found.
“When heavy equipment, worker camps, operator huts, division of tasks, and command flows are found at one location, it indicates an illegal operation built on a large scale. Therefore, criminal enforcement must not stop at the parties present on site, but must break the supply chain, division of roles, controlling parties, financiers, and those who primarily benefit,” Rudianto explained.
He stated that the suspected PETI location is within the Limited Production Forest Area according to Ministerial Decree Number 10798 of 2025.
Following the report, the team conducted field checks to verify its accuracy. After initial findings were confirmed, the Directorate General of Law Enforcement (Gakkum) of the Forestry Ministry, along with the XVII Cenderawasih Military Command and the 173 Praja Vira Braja Regional Command, under the Satgas PKH framework, carried out a joint operation to the site.
Initial investigation results and statements from witnesses on the ground indicate that the location has indeed been used for PETI practices.
From examinations of the reporting witness, official witnesses, heavy equipment operators, locals, and workers at the site, investigators found that the activities were run in a structured manner with a clear division of tasks. In addition to local operators, officials also examined seven Chinese foreign nationals who played roles in management, technical aspects, and specialist underground mining labour.
The seven Chinese foreign nationals are now under the handling of the Immigration Office for further processing.
Dwi Januanto Nugroho, Director General of Forest Law Enforcement at the Forestry Ministry, expressed the commitment of all his ranks in the Satgas PKH efforts to uncover violation practices or crimes of destroying forest natural resource ecosystems, which are serious and organised crimes.
“The state continues to regain control over forest areas that have been plundered, and simultaneously continues to improve better forest governance,” he said.