Twelve Chinese Nationals Wanted for Illegal Gold Mining in Maluku

The Directorate General of Law Enforcement (Ditjen Gakkum) of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) has placed 12 foreign nationals from China on the Wanted Persons List (DPO). This is related to a case of illegal gold mining at Gunung Botak, Maluku. The fugitive status was determined as part of the ongoing joint investigation with the National Police’s Criminal Investigation Agency (Bareskrim Polri) into the practice of Unlicensed Mining (PETI). Director General of Law Enforcement at ESDM, Rilke Jeffri Huwae, explained that the total number of suspects in the case has reached 26 individuals. Of that list, 24 are Chinese nationals and the remaining are Indonesian citizens (WNI). He stated that the 12 Chinese nationals who are now fugitives have been identified as currently being outside Indonesia’s jurisdiction. “They are among those who must be held accountable, but because they are not present, a DPO has been issued,” he said at the Maluku High Prosecutor’s Office on Thursday (25/6/2026). The foreign nationals who have been placed on the DPO are considered to have played a significant role in setting up the operational infrastructure for the illegal mine in Buru Regency, Maluku. Their roles included constructing processing facilities, establishing gold refining laboratories, and providing other technical support facilities at the mining site. The determination of suspect status and the pursuit of the fugitives were made after investigators obtained sufficient evidence from searches conducted in various locations, from Maluku to Jakarta. The Civil Servant Investigator (PPNS) team from Ditjen Gakkum ESDM has also sealed a number of important pieces of evidence found in the field. The authorities are currently finalising the case files to be immediately handed over to the Public Prosecutor for the prosecution stage. The investigation into this illegal gold mining case is confirmed to be continuously developed as new legal facts emerge to ensure legal certainty and the sovereignty of national natural resources. “The suspects were named after investigators upgraded the investigation status on 3 April 2026 and obtained sufficient evidence based on the investigation results, collection of information, and case reviews conducted on 22 May and 22 June 2026,” he asserted. Separately, Maluku Regional Secretary Sadali Ie stated that the regional government supports the ongoing legal process for the illegal mining case in the area. He noted that the handling of the PETI case at Gunung Botak itself is already supported by regulations issued by the Governor of Maluku. “We are grateful to the Director General of Gakkum at the Ministry of ESDM for carrying out the inquiry and investigation, which indicated criminal acts, and several people have been named as suspects,” he said on the same occasion. The regional government hopes that the eradication of the Gunung Botak gold PETI will have a positive impact on the local community and boost Maluku’s economic growth. “On the other hand, it is to encourage economic growth by increasing the locally-generated revenue of Maluku province,” he concluded.