2 Chinese Nationals Arrested for Illegal Mining in Sulawesi
The Ministry of Forestry named two Chinese nationals as suspects for allegedly supervising and funding illegal mining in North Sulawesi.
Two Chinese nationals, CXY and XXL, have been arrested in Sulawesi, Indonesia, for engaging in illegal gold mining activities within a Limited Production Forest (HPT) area. The arrests were made by the Ministry of Forestry's Law Enforcement Center for Forestry in Sulawesi, following a Forestry Security Operation conducted on July 10, 2026.
Both suspects were discovered at the illegal mining site in Sungai Ongkag, Bolaang Mongondow Regency, North Sulawesi. Digital forensic evidence revealed a record of fund transactions through a bank account under CXY's name, which were used to fund worker wages, equipment rentals, and material purchases for the illegal mining operations.
Both men face a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a fine of up to Rp7.5 billion for their involvement in the illegal mining activities, which damage the environment, deprive local communities and the state of proper benefits, and create unfair competition for law-abiding businesses.
Brief written by urgent.news from Tempo.co English's own syndicated text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
