Satgas PKH responds to PT PMM's denial of rare earth metals smuggling allegations

JAKARTA (ANTARA) - The Forest Area Clearance Task Force (Satgas PKH) has responded to PT Putraprima Mineral Mandiri’s (PMM) denial regarding allegations of smuggling rare earth metals (LTJ) and radioactive elements. Satgas PKH spokesperson Barita Simanjuntak told media in Jakarta on Friday that rare earth metals are already prohibited for export. “Regardless of the contents, rare earth sand is a commodity prohibited from export. Moreover, scientific laboratory tests have revealed the presence of elements banned from trade and export. This is clear,” he said. He explained that 25 containers were seized from the TB Capricorn 106/TK Capricorn 92.210 vessel by the Indonesian Navy (TNI AL) in Batam, Riau Islands. Ten of the containers belonged to PT Timah, and laboratory tests confirmed they contained tin as declared. He revealed that the company refused and was uncooperative when the containers were to be inspected. Due to suspected document discrepancies, investigators conducted scientific testing by taking samples. The results showed the transported material contained rare earth metals. “From the test results, the material was found to contain elements prohibited for export trade, specifically rare earth sand (rare earth metals) with certain material content,” he said. “Thus, the issue is that the documentation is correct, but the contents do not match,” he added. Additionally, Poltak submitted evidence of legal violations allegedly committed by the Batam Naval Regional Commander (Kodareal IV) for unsealing 15 containers and sampling PT PMM’s ilmenite mineral products. He stated that the documents were submitted to refute claims that PT PMM had smuggled hazardous radioactive minerals and prohibited export materials. “The accusations are defamatory, baseless, and highly damaging to us as a law-abiding company in this country,” he said. He explained that PT PMM has laboratory test results from PT Sucofindo, which showed the exported minerals contained no hazardous substances. “If our goods contained radioactive or hazardous materials, Sucofindo would not have issued the certificate, nor would Customs have approved it,” he said.