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View all search resultsPolice take custody of 17 illegal gold miners after natural disasters in North Sumatra
The Illegal gold mining operations have a turnover of Rp 600 million per day from six mines in the South Tapanuli and Mandailing Natal regencies.
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Excavators are seen in a photo released on March 3, 2026, at an illegal gold mine that was raided by North Sumatra Police in an unidentified location in North Sumatra. The police raided six illegal gold mines in South Tapanuli and Mandailing Natal regencies on March 2 and March 3. (Antaranews.com/North Sumatra Police)
T
he police in North Sumatra have taken into custody 17 illegal gold miners from several places in the South Tapanuli and Mandailing Natal regencies following November flash floods and landslides in the forest areas they are operating in.
A joint team from the Special Crimes (Reskrimsus) Directorate and Mobile Brigade (Brimob) also confiscated 14 excavators used by the miners in the forest areas.
North Sumatra Police deputy chief Brig. Gen. Sonny Irawan said the illegal gold mining started three months ago, after the hydrometeorological disaster hit North Sumatra, Aceh and West Sumatra.
He said 17 people have been taken into custody from the raids on the illegal gold mines. So far, they are being treated as witnesses. They will be considered suspects only after they are questioned by the police. Detectives will study the role of each of the miners according to the job cluster at each mining site.
“Detectives will further study the roles of the 17 people taken into custody from the mining locations, including investigating any parties controlling the illegal gold mines,” he said after leading the raid on illegal gold mines in South Tapanuli on Tuesday.
“The investigation will also uncover information on other illegal gold mines still operating around forest areas in Mandailing Natal.”
Sonny acknowledged that the area of raided illegal gold mines was vast. Initially they operated only in Mandailing Natal, but then they spread to neighboring South Tapanuli.
