ESDM Ministry to Trace Source of Illegal Gold Export Smuggling
Indonesia's Energy Ministry will trace the supply chain behind illegal gold exports, including financiers, mining operations and permits.
The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) announced plans to investigate the origins of illegal gold exports. Sahid Junaidi, secretary of the ESDM's Directorate General of Law Enforcement, revealed that the investigation would focus on identifying the financiers behind illegal mining operations and verifying the legality of mining activities.
The statement came in response to recent enforcement actions by the Ministry of Finance's Directorate General of Customs and Excise (DJBC) against illegal gold smuggling attempts at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Banten.
Sahid explained that the investigation would be tied to Article 161 of Law No. 3 of 2020, which criminalizes the storage, transportation, processing, and sale of mining products without valid permits. The government will also examine the legality of mining operations, including the verification of mining business permits and other relevant licenses. By tracing the distribution chain and identifying financiers, the government aims to combat illegal gold export smuggling.
Written by urgent.news from Tempo.co English's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
