Police Arrest Two Illegal Gold Miners in Kampar, Destroy 12 Rafts

Riau Regional Police, through the Kampar Police, have dismantled an illegal gold mining activity (PETI) in Sukamakmur Village, Gunung Sahilan District, Kampar Regency. Two individuals were arrested during the operation. The enforcement action took place on Tuesday (14/7) at around 14.00 WIB, following up on public information regarding illegal gold mining activities at the location. Led by Kampar Police Criminal Investigation Unit Head AKP I Gede Yoga Putra Ekayana, Tipidter Unit Head Iptu Hermoliza, and Pidum Unit Head Ipda Benua Meijar, the team was divided into two squads. The two teams dispersed to two designated points. At the first point, officers discovered several men conducting illegal gold mining using sand suction machines at coordinates 0°2’47”N 101°18’41”E. Upon noticing the police, the perpetrators fled, but one was successfully apprehended. Meanwhile, the second team raided an illegal gold mining site on a riverbank, where they also found several people engaged in illegal mining. A chase ensued, and one perpetrator was arrested at the scene. The two arrested suspects, identified as TR (33) and S (57), were workers operating the illegal mining rafts. Investigations indicated that the illegal mining activity was linked to a gold collector with the initial J. Police subsequently raided J’s house in Sukamakmur Village, Gunung Sahilan District. Although J was not present, officers seized a set of gold weighing scales, two pieces of gold, three notebooks, a set of gold smelting tools, and a bottle of mercury. From the two mining locations, police also discovered three robin engines, five gold collection mats, four wooden pans, two suction hoses, a pipe, buckets, and a dompeng machine. As a deterrent, 12 rafts found at the two sites were destroyed by burning. Kampar Police Chief AKBP Boby Ramadhan Sebayang stated that the operation demonstrates the Riau Police’s commitment to environmental preservation, in line with the ‘Green Policing’ spirit promoted by Riau Police Chief Inspector General Herry Heryawan. He urged the public to report any illegal mining activities to the police call centre at 110.