Police seize 18 tons of illegal cyanide bound for unlicensed mines

hartono · Jun 30, 2026

Police seize 18 tons of illegal cyanide bound for unlicensed mines

Investigators from the Directorate of Economic and Special Crimes (Dittipideksus) at the National Police’s Criminal Investigation Department (Bareskrim Polri) seized 362 drums — equivalent to about 18.1 tons — of the hazardous chemical sodium cyanide, an illegal substance, from a storage warehouse in Kosambi, Tangerang Regency, Banten, on Tuesday. (June 30, 2026) (ANTARA/Azmi Samsul M)

Tangerang, Banten (ANTARA) - Indonesian police have seized 18.1 metric tons of illegal sodium cyanide and arrested two suspects for allegedly supplying the hazardous chemical to illegal gold mining operations across the country, a senior official said on Tuesday.

Brigadier General Ade Safri Simanjuntak, director of economic and special crimes at the National Police's Criminal Investigation Department, stated that the chemical is suspected to have been illegally imported from China.

Investigators launched the crackdown after receiving intelligence regarding the distribution of unauthorized cyanide outside government oversight.

Raids were conducted at three storage and distribution sites across Bekasi and West Jakarta, yielding a total of 362 drums of sodium cyanide.

The seized stockpile is valued at approximately 14.5 billion rupiah (around US$885,000).

Police named two suspects in the case, identified by their initials S, 59, and DW, 40.

According to investigators, S allegedly distributed the toxic chemical to wildcat gold miners in West Sumatra, while DW supplied operations in South Sulawesi and Central Kalimantan.

The use of cyanide in unlicensed gold mining is a major environmental and public health concern in Indonesia, often leading to severe water contamination and soil degradation.

Police are currently tracing the illicit supply chain to identify the import originators and potential accomplices within the network.

The suspects face charges under Indonesia's Trade Law and Consumer Protection Law. If convicted, they could face up to four years in prison and a maximum fine of 10 billion rupiah (US$610,000).