Jayapura. Papua Police have arrested four Chinese nationals accused of engaging in illegal gold mining in Senggi district, Jayapura regency, along with two Indonesian collaborators who allegedly facilitated the operation.

The arrests were carried out by the Directorate of Special Crimes of Papua Police on Aug. 26 at Kali Pur, Senggi, after investigators uncovered evidence linking the suspects to unlicensed mining activities. All six have been declared suspects, police said Tuesday.

The four Chinese nationals were identified as CL, 46, a machine survey technician who oversaw production and trained Indonesian workers; WCD, 60, an electrical technician responsible for repairing equipment; CHT, 40, a broker who connected investors with local operators; and CD, 41, an investor directly involved on site.

Two Indonesian nationals were also charged. They are identified as AAM H.N, 47, the director of PT Saveree Gading International Group, who allegedly provided initial capital and mining facilities, and LHS, 46, who worked as a translator and payroll coordinator for local employees.

Papua Police’s Special Crime Director, Commissioner I Gusti Gede Era Adhinata, said the suspects face charges under Indonesia’s 2020 Mining Law and Article 55 of the Criminal Code, carrying a maximum penalty of five years in prison and fines of up to Rp100 billion ($6.4 million).

“The mining site has been sealed off with police lines since Aug. 26,” Era Adhinata told reporters in Jayapura, alongside police spokesman Commissioner Cahyo Sukarnito.

Investigators said the illegal mining activity had been ongoing since May and had already produced around 275 grams of gold. Police also revealed that part of the gold output was smuggled to China by one of the financiers identified only as CK.