Jakarta. The National Police have arrested several suspects and seized heavy equipment after uncovering an illegal nickel mining operation in forested land in North Konawe Regency, a senior officer said Monday.

Investigators found unauthorized excavation activities in Morombo Pantai Village, where soil containing nickel ore was being extracted, according to Irhamni.

The illegal operation allegedly involved the mining company Masempo Dalle. Two executives from the firm have been detained as suspects, while investigators seized four dump trucks and three excavators as evidence.

Irhamni said the suspects have been charged under Article 158 of Indonesia’s 2020 Mineral and Coal Mining Law, which prohibits mining without a permit and carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a fine of up to Rp 100 billion ($5.9 million).

Authorities also applied Article 161 of the same law, which covers the transportation or processing of minerals originating from illegal mining activities.

Police have recently intensified operations against illegal mining across the country, a practice that authorities say can cost the state hundreds of trillions of rupiah due to environmental damage and unpaid taxes and royalties.

Last week, police shut down seven illegal gold mines operating on plantation land owned by the state plantation company PT Perkebunan Nusantara in Lampung.

In October last year, President Prabowo Subianto said the government had closed around 1,000 illegal tin mines in Bangka Belitung Islands as part of a nationwide crackdown on unauthorized mining activities.