Revealed! Illegal Mining Operations Found in IKN Area
Illegal mining activities have been discovered in the Nusantara Capital Authority (IKN) area, including in the Tahura Bukit Soeharto conservation forest region.
The Head of the Legal and Compliance Unit (UKHK) of Otorita IKN, who also serves as Chairman of the Task Force for Combating Illegal Activities in the IKN Area, Agung Dodit Muliawan, emphasised that Otorita IKN has undertaken various measures to eradicate illegal activities in the IKN region since 2023.
“Since 2023, we have formed an inter-ministerial and inter-agency task force to conduct surveillance, enforcement, and legal action against various illegal activities in the IKN area, including in Tahura Bukit Soeharto,” said Agung Dodit in the Central Government Core Area, IKN, quoted on Tuesday (12/05/2026).
The Task Force for Combating Illegal Activities in the IKN Area involves various entities, including the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, the Ministry of Environment and Forestry/BPLH, Kodam VI/Mulawarman, the East Kalimantan Regional Police, the East Kalimantan High Prosecutor’s Office, Mulawarman University, the East Kalimantan Provincial Government, the Kutai Kartanegara Regency Government, and the Penajam Paser Utara Regency Government.
In its implementation, the task force has carried out several enforcement actions against illegal activities in the Tahura area and other forest regions in IKN. Some of these include handling the case of illegal coal transportation that has reached P21 status, closing an illegal mine in Bukit Tengkorak, addressing illegal mining behind RS Samboja by the East Kalimantan Police, and handling cases of illegal mining and coal sales in Samboja by the National Police Criminal Investigation Agency.
Additionally, the task force has taken action against the transportation of illegal coal using seven trucks and illegal coal transport to a jetty, which has been handed over to the relevant law enforcement authorities.
Agung Dodit emphasised that the Tahura Bukit Soeharto area is a conservation forest zone that is legally prohibited from any form of mining activity.
“We are committed to protecting this conservation area from all forms of encroachment and illegal mining activities. Law enforcement will continue without exception,” he asserted.
Otorita IKN is also actively conducting outreach to the public and opening channels for dialogue to find solutions for activities that were already in place before the establishment of IKN.
Looking ahead, Otorita IKN will increase patrol frequency, strengthen law enforcement, continue legal processes against all illegal activities, and involve the community as partners in monitoring through Otorita IKN’s official reporting channels.