Murung Raya, Central Kalimantan. Top Indonesian law enforcement officials and cabinet members on Tuesday inspected a nearly 1,700-hectare illegal coal mining site in Murung Raya Regency, Central Kalimantan, linked to mining tycoon Samin Tan, following his recent arrest.

The site had been operated by Asmin Koalindo Tuhup, a company owned by Samin, whose mining license was revoked by the government in 2017.

Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Bahlil Lahadalia, Defense Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin, Attorney General Sanitiar Burhanuddin, and National Police Chief Listyo Sigit Prabowo visited the location to ensure that all mining activities had ceased and that the land was being returned to the state.

“The mining permit at this location was revoked in 2017, meaning all operations conducted since then have had no legal basis,” Bahlil said in a statement.

The government’s Forest Area Control Task Force, led by Bahlil, has taken over the site — previously operated as an open-pit mine — to restore it as state-controlled land.

Samin was arrested by the Attorney General’s Office on March 28 and named a suspect in a corruption case.

Once ranked among Indonesia’s wealthiest individuals, Samin built his fortune through coal ventures, including ownership of Borneo Lumbung Energi, and previously served as chairman of London-listed Bumi Plc at the height of his career. According to Forbes, he was Indonesia’s 28th richest person in 2011, with an estimated net worth of $940 million.

Task force spokesperson Barita Simanjuntak said the shutdown is part of efforts to enforce regulations under a 2025 presidential regulation and to ensure forest areas are managed for public benefit in line with constitutional mandates.

“We respect all business activities, but they must comply with regulations across Indonesia to close loopholes that enable illegal use of forest areas, as mandated by Article 33 of the 1945 Constitution,” Barita said.

The task force has so far reclaimed more than 3.3 million hectares of land, with portions allocated for conservation and food security programs, while the remainder is undergoing administrative processing.