Way Kanan, Lampung. The Indonesian police have shut down seven illegal gold mining operations in Way Kanan Regency, Lampung, that had been operating for about 18 months and caused an estimated Rp 1.3 trillion ($77 million) in state losses.

The illegal mining activities took place on approximately 200 hectares of land managed by state-owned plantation company Perkebunan Nusantara.

Police arrested 24 individuals in the crackdown — 14 of whom have been formally charged — and seized a number of heavy machines at the site, Lampung Police Chief Inspector General Helfi Assegaf said on Tuesday.

The illegal mines were spread across three districts — Blambangan Umpu, Umpu Semenguk, and Baradatu — along the Betih River.

Investigators found that the operations were producing around 1.5 kilograms of gold per day, Helfi said.

During the operation on Sunday, police confiscated 41 excavators, 23 ore-processing machines, diesel fuel supplies, and more than a dozen operational vehicles.

The Lampung Police have coordinated with the Environment Ministry and the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry to assess the full extent of state losses and environmental damage from illegal mining activities.

Helfi said the operations not only resulted in significant economic losses but also posed a serious risk to the environment.

“We will coordinate with the Environment Ministry and the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry to determine the state losses caused by land damage and the environmental impact of these illegal mining activities,” Helfi told reporters in Way Kanan.

Police also discovered the use of hazardous chemicals such as mercury and cyanide in the gold extraction process, which could contaminate surrounding ecosystems.

“We remind the public not to engage in illegal mining. If similar activities are found, we will take firm legal action in accordance with the law,” Helfi said.

The suspects have been charged under Indonesia’s Mineral and Coal Mining Law, which carries a maximum prison sentence of five years and fines of up to Rp 100 billion.