Inp.polri.go.id - Jakarta. President Prabowo Subianto has ordered the closure of 1,000 illegal tin mines in Bangka Belitung and a sweeping crackdown on smuggling routes that have cost Indonesia trillions of rupiah in lost revenue. 

He tasked the military, police, and customs to launch a joint operation starting September 1, aiming to block exports of illegally mined tin that account for nearly 80 percent of shipments.

“Bangka Belitung has long been one of the world’s leading tin hubs. But there are 1,000 illegal mines. From September 1, I ordered the military, the police, and the Customs to carry out a massive operation. Eighty percent of tin that was smuggled out, we shut it down,” President Prabowo said on Monday (29/9/2025), as quoted by antaranews.com.

He stressed that the action could save the state up to Rp 22 trillion this year and Rp 45 trillion by 2026. President Prabowo also highlighted the rare earth minerals in mine waste, directing customs to recruit chemists to identify and secure these valuable resources.

(mg/inp/pr/rs)