The National Police’s Crime Investigation Agency (Bareskrim) has identified 1,517 illegal mining operations (PETI) still active across Indonesia, with the highest concentration located in North Sumatra and West Java.

Deputy Director for Energy and Mineral Resources Crime at Bareskrim, Senior Commissioner Feby Dapot Hutagalung, revealed that illegal mining activities are spread across more than 30 provinces.

“Almost every province, from Aceh to Papua, has illegal mining sites. This reflects Indonesia’s natural wealth that has not been properly managed, coupled with weak supervision,” Feby said during the Mineral and Coal Convex 2025 event on Thursday, October 16, 2025.

The illegal mining commodities vary widely, ranging from gold, sand, soil, coal, andesite, and tin. According to Feby, illegal operations often persist due to protection from certain individuals or groups, including law enforcement personnel, political figures, community leaders, and local traditional authorities.

“This becomes a crucial challenge for us when enforcing the law in the field,” he noted.

From 2023 to 2025, Bareskrim has investigated 108 illegal mining cases, while regional police offices (Polda) and their units are handling 1,256 ongoing cases. The most common modus operandi involves operating without official permits or using permits that violate state regulations, with illegal activities occurring across the entire mining value chain − from upstream to downstream.

“We once conducted enforcement at the downstream level by seizing 351 containers of coal mined illegally from the Nusantara Capital City (IKN) area, which lies within a protected conservation zone in Bukit Soeharto or Taman Hutan Raya (Forest Conservation Area). The illegal operation had been active since 2016 and was only successfully dismantled in 2025,” Feby cited.

He added that Bareskrim is determined to strengthen enforcement efforts against illegal mining practices, which continue to threaten Indonesia’s environment, state revenue, and the sustainability of its natural resources.