Inp.polri.go.id - Surabaya.  The Indonesian National Police (INP)’s Directorate of Special Crimes has raided two illegal storage facilities for hazardous chemicals containing cyanide in Surabaya and Pasuruan, East Java.

The operation followed intelligence on unauthorized sodium cyanide trade linked to Steven Sinugroho, the Director of PT Sumber Hidup Chemindo (SHC).

“We received information that 10 containers of cyanide were about to be delivered, but the shipment was diverted when we began our search,” said Brigadier. General Nunung Syaifuddin, the Director of Special Crimes at the iNP’s Criminal Investigation Agency,  during a press conference in Surabaya on Thursday (8/5/2025).

Police seized thousands of drums—many unlabelled or disguised with other company names—allegedly sold to unlicensed gold miners. 

Steven allegedly imported 494.4 tons of cyanide from China using documents from a defunct mining firm and distributed it illegally across Indonesia. He now faces charges under the Consumer Protection Law, with a maximum penalty of five years in prison or a fine of up to Rp 2 billion.

(mg/inp/pr/nm)