TNBTS Apprehends 13 Suspected Illegal Hikers on Mount Semeru

The Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park Agency (TNBTS) has stated that 13 individuals suspected of illegally climbing Mount Semeru were apprehended by officers during a Surveillance Operation conducted in the Ranupani National Park Management Resort (RPTN) and the Taman Satriyan RPTN. “The TNBTS Agency secured 13 people suspected of carrying out illegal climbs of Mount Semeru. The enforcement process was carried out through a Surveillance Operation at RPTN Ranupani, Lumajang Regency, and RPTN Taman Satriyan, Malang Regency,” said TNBTS Agency Head Rudijanta Tjahja Nugraha in Malang City, East Java, on Tuesday. He stated that the number of suspected illegal hikers caught in Ranupani was two, while in Taman Satriyan, specifically in the Purbakala area, Mulyoasri Village, Ampelgading District, officers apprehended 11 people. He said the Forestry Law Enforcement Agency for Java, Bali, and Nusa Tenggara under the Ministry of Forestry will conduct examinations and process the official investigation reports for the 13 suspected illegal hikers. Based on the results of the examination conducted by the TNBTS Agency, the two suspected illegal hikers at RPTN Ranupani were found to have climbed Mount Semeru via an unofficial route, known locally as ‘ayek-ayek’. Both also attempted to avoid the Registered Mount Semeru Climbing Guides (PPGST) during their descent from Semeru, then fled into a plantation and were secured by local residents. The hikers were immediately handed over to TNBTS officers. “The surveillance in Taman Satriyan was a follow-up to patrols and sweeps by officers on routes suspected of being used as access for illegal climbs to Mount Semeru. The 11 people secured were directed to descend for data collection and further examination,” he said. The TNBTS Agency is currently pursuing four other illegal hikers suspected of climbing via the Purbakala area. Meanwhile, TNBTS Agency Public Relations Officer Endrip Wahyutama said that regarding sanctions, his party is still awaiting the results of the process being carried out by the Forestry Law Enforcement Agency for Java, Bali, and Nusa Tenggara. “Sanctions have not been determined yet; we will be informed by the law enforcement authorities later,” he said.