West Sumatra's Illegal Gold Allegedly Reaches International Markets, Indonesian Police Investigate

An alleged illegal gold trade network from West Sumatra, Indonesia, reaching international markets has surfaced, prompting an investigation by authorities. On August 20, the West Sumatra Regional Police arrested an Indian national, identified by the initial A, seizing three bars of pure gold, two mobile phones, a digital scale, approximately Rp6 million in cash, and a car. The gold is suspected to originate from illegal and unlicensed mining (PETI) activities in the Sijunjung Regency and Garabak Data, Solok Regency. Investigators suspect that the gold collected by A was sent to Malaysia through a courier network. A stated that he only received information from an individual with the initial N after the ordered gold was gathered, and that N deployed two to three couriers who did not know each other. A allegedly began this business between March and April 2026, purchasing an average of 40 grams of alluvial gold per day. This activity resumed in July, with the gold purchased in bar form, averaging about one kilogram per day. Tommy Adam, Executive Director of Walhi West Sumatra, an environmental advocacy group, stated that the arrest of A proves that illegal gold from the province circulates not only in the local market but also internationally. He urged the police to uncover all involved parties, from the mining site to the final buyers, emphasizing, "Do not just crack down on perpetrators at the ground level." According to Walhi, PETI in West Sumatra has evolved into a structured activity involving heavy equipment, dredging machines, significant capital, and the use of mercury. These activities are estimated to have opened up approximately 1,100 hectares of forest area. Furthermore, over 50 people have reportedly died due to illegal gold mining between 2012 and May 2026.