inp.polri.go.id - Jakarta. The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) and the Indonesian National Police (INP) have named 26 people as suspects in an alleged illegal mining case in Botak Mountain, Buru Regency, Maluku.

"We express our appreciation to the public for reporting the illegal mining activities in Botak Mountain, allowing us to follow up with legal action," said Jeffri Huwae, Director General of Law Enforcement at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, on Friday (6/26/2026).

Jeffri emphasized that the suspects are suspected of playing a role in supporting the mining operational activities, such as constructing operational roads for the mine, constructing holding ponds, establishing gold processing or refining laboratories, processing activities, and constructing other supporting facilities.

Of the 26 suspects, two are Indonesian citizens (WNI), and the other 24 are foreign nationals (WNA).

The team has sealed and confiscated evidence found in several locations, namely in Mount Botak, Namlea City, Ambon, and Jakarta.

Furthermore, he emphasized that currently the Civil Servant Investigator Team (PPNS) of the Directorate General of Law Enforcement together with the PPNS Supervisory Team are completing the case files.

This investigation will continue to develop as new facts related to the case emerge. In handling this case, the PPNS investigators are independent and free from any influence to ensure accountability, legal certainty, and justice.

This law enforcement is also being carried out to support the pro-people program of the Governor of Maluku, who emphasized that the management of the Botak Mountain gold mine, under the community mining permit (IPR) scheme, is directed towards the prosperity of the people of Maluku.

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