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View all search resultsN. Sumatra Police name 2 suspects in illegal gold mining case
The two suspects worked as an excavator operator and a mechanic handling a gold sluice box at the illegal gold mine.
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Excavators sit at an illegal gold mine raided by North Sumatra Police at an undisclosed location in North Sumatra in this photo issued on March 3, 2026. Police raided six illegal gold mines in South Tapanuli and Mandailing Natal regencies on March 2 and 3.
(Antaranews.com/North Sumatra Police)
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orth Sumatra Police have named two people as suspects among the 17 detained during a law enforcement operation against illegal gold mining on the border of South Tapanuli and Mandailing Natal regencies.
The suspects are identified as Abu Bakar of West Sumatra and Ali Derlan, from North Sumatra. Both suspects were detained at the North Sumatra Police detention center.
North Sumatra Police Special Crimes Investigation (Reskrimsus) director Sr. Comr. Rahmat Budi Handoko said the two were named suspects after detectives questioned all 17 people detained at an illegal gold mine in Panabari village, Tano Tombangan district, South Tapanuli.
He said that Abu Bakar is an excavator operator while Ali Derlan is a mechanic handling a gold sluice box.
“For their roles, Abu Bakar and Ali Derlan are named as suspects,” Rahmat said on Friday.
“They are charged with Article 158 of Law No. 3/2020 on mineral and coal mining.”
He added that the remaining 15 people were still witnesses because they were not directly involved in the illegal gold mining activities.
