Police Swiftly Respond to Public Reports, Destroy Five Illegal Mining Rafts in Kuansing
Kuantan Singingi Police, through the Pangean Sector Police, moved swiftly in response to intelligence regarding unlicensed gold mining activity, known locally as PETI (Penambangan Emas Tanpa Izin). Five dompeng — rafts used in illegal mining operations — were destroyed.
The operation, led by Pangean Sector Police Chief Inspector Aman Sembiring, was conducted after officers received reports from the public concerning illegal mining in Tanah Bekali Village, Pangean Sub-district, Kuansing Regency, on Friday morning (20 February 2026). Upon arriving at the location, officers discovered five dompeng units in the river.
However, when the site was raided, the operators were not present and no mining activity was taking place. Officers took decisive action to ensure the equipment could not be used again.
“We found five PETI rafts in the Tombang area. As a concrete measure, all the rafts were immediately destroyed by dismantling and burning them on site,” said Kuansing Police Chief Senior Commissioner Hidayat Perdana.
The police chief stated that the destruction was carried out to sever the chain of illegal activity damaging river ecosystems in the Kuantan Singingi region. Although no suspects were apprehended during this particular operation, the police assured that routine surveillance would continue.
Senior Commissioner Hidayat emphasised that the enforcement action formed part of the Indonesian National Police’s efforts to protect the natural heritage of the Lancang Kuning region from environmental damage caused by illegal mining.
“We urge the public to cease all unlicensed mining activity. Beyond being a violation of the law, the environmental damage it causes will be profoundly detrimental to the wider community in the future,” he stressed.
The operation, which concluded at 11.30 a.m. local time, proceeded safely and without incident. The Pangean Sector Police called on all members of the community to play an active role in reporting any form of illegal activity in their surroundings for the sake of collective security.
The measure is also in line with the Green Policing programme championed by Riau Police Chief Inspector General Herry Heryawan as an effort to preserve the natural environment.