Inp.polri.go.id - Jakarta. The Indonesian National Police Security Maintenance Agency’s Water and Air Police Directorate is hunting down the senders of an illegal tin sand shipment linked to an illicit tin processing operation in Bekasi, West Java.

During a press conference in North Jakarta on Thursday (6/2/2025), Senior Superintendent Donny Charles Go, the Head of Sub-Directorate for Legal Enforcement at the Water and Air Police, revealed that two suspects have been arrested: a South Korean citizen, identified as J, the operational head of CV Galena Alam Raya Utama (GARU), and AF, the company’s director. 

Both are accused of receiving the illegal tin sand.

The police are now targeting the senders, believed to have shipped the tin sand from Bangka Belitung to Jakarta’s Tanjung Priok port. 

“We have identified the senders and are actively searching for them. We hope to make arrests soon,” said Chief Donny, as quoted by antaranews.com.

The processed tin, in the form of ingots, was allegedly destined for South Korea. Investigators are also probing potential links to a separate 20-ton tin smuggling case.

The operation was uncovered after reports of tin sand being transported by sea. Police seized evidence, including 207 tin ingots, raw tin sand, and processing equipment, estimating state losses at Rp 10 billion.

The suspects face up to five years in prison and fines of up to Rp 100 billion under the mining laws.

(mg/inp/pr/nm)