West Java Police Bust Illegal Gold Mine in Bogor, Earning Rp5 Billion in a Month
The Directorate of Special Criminal Investigation (Ditreskrimsus) of the West Java Provincial Police has dismantled illegal gold mining practices in Leuwiliang and Nanggung subdistricts, Bogor Regency. The mine had been operating for several years and generated billions in revenue.
Dirkrimsus of the West Java Provincial Police, Commissioner Police Wirdhanto Hadicaksono, stated that the illegal gold mining operation in Bogor, with billions in turnover, was busted during March-April. He mentioned that four individuals, initialled M, EM, MNL, and HMA, have been named as suspects in the case.
“The results of the enforcement we carried out this March include the dismantling of an illegal gold mining syndicate in Bogor Regency,” he said, accompanied by the Head of Public Relations of the West Java Provincial Police, Commissioner Police Hendra Rochmawan, on Thursday (30/4/2026).
He explained that they successfully arrested four suspects with varying roles. Suspect M supplied land and rocks containing gold and processed them.
Dirkrimsus stated that some of the materials were sold, while others were processed into jendil containing mineral metals such as gold, silver, and others. The jendil weighed between half a gram and two and a half grams.
Then, M sold the jendil to EM, who has been operating since 2025, processing it into bullion. They seized 7.2 grams of jendil from EM, purchased for Rp8 million. If sold at 41 percent carat, it could fetch Rp1.2 million per gram.
He continued that EM sold the bullion to MNL, who processed it into gold bars. MNL, operating since 2020, lacked an industrial business permit. The purified gold was cast into bars ranging from 25 grams to 100 grams.
Subsequently, MNL sold to a collector who is the father of HMA. The gold produced in a month averaged 2 to 3 kilograms.
“MNL earned profits of 2 percent from the finished jewellery and 1 percent from the bullion,” he said.
Additionally, MNL sold 389.69 grams of gold to his father HMA for Rp979 million. HMA owns a gold and silver jewellery trading kiosk in a Bogor market to disguise the illegal activities.
“Based on the suspects’ statements, they could earn up to Rp5 billion in profit per month from selling 2-2.5 kilos monthly,” he said.
The perpetrators are charged under Article 158 of Law No. 3 of 2020, amending Law No. 4 of 2009 on Mineral and Coal Mining, with a maximum penalty of 5 years imprisonment.