West Papua Police hunt suspected financier of illegal gold mine

Manokwari, W Papua (ANTARA) - Police in Indonesia's West Papua Province are searching for a man suspected of financing an illegal gold mining operation after arresting six people and seizing six excavators during a raid in Manokwari, authorities said on Friday.

West Papua Police's Director of Special Criminal Investigation Senior Commissioner Darma Suwandito said investigators are pursuing a suspect identified as F, also known as Fajar, following the operation at the illegal mine in the Wasirawi River, Masni Subdistrict.

"We will continue the investigation to locate F, also known as Fajar, who is believed to be the financier behind the illegal mining operation," Darma said.

He said a joint task force carried out the operation over three days, from Tuesday through Thursday, at the mining site in Manokwari District.

The team, comprising the Special Criminal Investigation Directorate, the Orion Special Team, the Mobile Brigade Corps and a special crimes unit, departed the West Papua Police Mobile Brigade headquarters early on Tuesday.

After arriving at the site, officers found two workers' camps that were still operating and began monitoring activities before launching enforcement measures.

On Wednesday evening, officers arrested six workers, including a supervisor, and seized two excavators believed to have been used in the mining operation.

The team later discovered four additional excavators allegedly hidden near the site, bringing the total number of heavy machines seized during the operation to six.

"The suspects have been taken to West Papua Police headquarters for further questioning, while the excavators are being transported from the mining site," Darma said.

Police also seized 28.2 grams of gold, three bottles containing mercury, two mixing devices, three weighing scales, a water pump, hoses, burning equipment, carpets and gold-panning tools.

Those arrested were identified by their initials as JS, a supervisor; EW, an excavator operator; R, I and J, cashiers; and ML, a cook.

Police believe seven other suspects fled the site, including Fajar, who investigators allege financed the illegal mining activities.

Darma said the operation appeared to be organized on a large scale, adding that efforts to hide the excavators suggested information about the planned raid may have been leaked.

West Papua Police spokesperson Senior Commissioner Trihadi Kuncahyo warned that mercury used in gold processing could contaminate rivers and damage surrounding ecosystems.

He said the operation reflected police commitment to combating illegal mining, which harms the environment and causes financial losses to the state.

"We urge the public not to engage in illegal mining because it damages the environment, harms the state and carries criminal penalties under Indonesia's Mineral and Coal Mining Law," Trihadi said.

Related news: Indonesia evacuates mining workers in Papua after armed attack

Related news: West Papua Police arrest 31 in illegal gold mining crackdown

Translator: Fransiskus SW, Rahmad Nasution

Editor: Primayanti

Copyright © ANTARA 2026