Police Arrest Two Illegal Gold Miners in Kampar, Destroy 12 Rafts
Riau Regional Police, through the Kampar Resort Police, have uncovered unlicensed gold mining activity (PETI) in Sukamakmur Village, Gunung Sahilan District, Kampar Regency. Two people were arrested in the case.
The operation was carried out on Tuesday (14/7) at around 14.00 Western Indonesia Time in Suka Makmur Village, Gunung Sahilan District, Kampar Regency. The covert operation was conducted following community reports of illegal gold mining activity at the location.
Led by Head of the Criminal Investigation Unit of Kampar Police AKP I Gede Yoga Putra Ekayana, Head of the Environmental Crimes Unit Iptu Hermoliza, and Head of the General Crimes Unit Ipda Benua Meijar, the team was divided into two squads. Both teams dispersed to the two targeted locations.
“At the first point, we found several men conducting unlicensed gold mining activity using sand suction machines at coordinates 0°2’49”N 101°18 41”E,” AKP I Gede explained in his statement on Wednesday (15/7).
Upon the arrival of police, the perpetrators fled. However, one person was secured.
Meanwhile, the second team raided an illegal gold mine on the riverbank. There, police also found a number of people carrying out illegal gold mining activity.
A chase ensued when officers encountered the perpetrators. One perpetrator was secured at the location.
“From those two locations, we secured two perpetrators with the initials TR (33) and S (57), who were workers or operators operating PETI rafts,” he added.
Based on the investigation, the PETI activity pointed to a gold collector with the initial J, who gathered gold from panning. The team then raided and searched J’s house in Sukamakmur Village, Gunung Sahilan District.
“However, when we arrived at his house, Mr J was not present. But we seized a number of items of evidence from the house, such as gold weighing scales, 2 pieces of gold, 3 record books, 1 set of gold-burning equipment, and 1 bottle of mercury,” he explained.
Meanwhile, from the two illegal gold mining locations, police found 3 robin machines, 5 gold-collecting carpets, 4 gold pans, 2 suction hoses, 1 pipe, buckets, and a pump engine. In addition, police destroyed 12 rafts at the two locations by burning them as a deterrent effect.
Kampar Police Chief AKBP Boby Ramadhan Sebayang said the enforcement operation was a manifestation of the Riau Regional Police’s commitment to environmental preservation, in line with the Green Policing spirit championed by Riau Police Chief Inspector General Herry Heryawan.
“We urge the public to report any PETI activity to the National Police call centre 110,” said Boby.