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View all search resultsTNI foils smuggling of rare earth metals, radioactive elements in Riau Islands
The Indonesian Navy intercepted a tugboat and a barge carrying 25 containers of some 390 tonnes of raw minerals containing illegal rare earth metals and radioactive elements in Riau Islands waters, on May 17
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The Indonesian Military (TNI) chief of general staff Lt. Gen. Richard Taruli H. Tampubolon (second right) holds a sack of mineral black sand on May 26, 2026, while the Republic of Indonesia Fleet Command (Koarmada RI) Vice Adm. Denih Hendrata (second left) looks on at the Indonesian Navy’s Naval Command (Kodaeral) IV/Batam headquarters’ pier in Batam, Riau Islands. The Indonesian Navy intercepted a tugboat and a barge carrying 25 containers of some 390 tonnes of raw minerals containing illegal rare earth metals and radioactive elements in Riau Islands waters on May 17, 2026. (Courtesy of Kodaeral IV/Batam/-)
T
he Indonesian Military (TNI) together with a joint task force has foiled an attempt to smuggle 390 tonnes of raw minerals containing illegal rare earth metals and radioactive elements in Riau Islands waters.
The value of the commodities is estimated to be in the trillions of rupiah, or hundreds of millions of United States dollars.
TNI chief of general staff Lt. Gen. Richard Taruli H. Tampubolon directly led a high-level investigation team in a on May 26 visit to the impounded vessels, the tugboat TB Capricorn 106 and barge TK Capricorn 92.210, currently moored at the Indonesian Navy’s Naval Command (Kodaeral) IV/Batam headquarters’ pier.
Also attending the visit were Junior Attorney General for Special Crimes (Jampidsus) Febrie Adriansyah, Republic of Indonesia Fleet Command (Koarmada RI) commander Vice Adm. Denih Hendrataa and several senior officials from the Office of the Coordinating Politics and Security Minister.
The vessels were intercepted on May 17 by KRI Kujang-642, a missile fast-attack-craft (KCR) under the command of First Fleet Command (Koarmada) I Maritime Security Task Force (Guskamla), in the Singapore Straits, Koarmada I said on its official Instagram account @koarmada_1.
The vessels were carrying tin and heading toward Singapore.
Initial investigation shows suspected severe violations on customs and mineral exports regulations, which were deemed to threaten natural resources management sovereignty and harming the state economy.
