Jakarta (VNA) - Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has ordered law enforcement agencies to step up efforts against illegal mining and smuggling, particularly in tin-rich regions.
Addressing at the handover of confiscated state assets from illegal mining cases to state-owned tin miner PT Timah held on October 6 in Pangkal Pinang, capital of Bangka Belitung Islands province, the president affirmed this is proof that the government is serious and determined to eradicate smuggling, eradicate illegal mining, and eradicate all those who violate the law.
The Attorney General's Office recently seized six tin smelters in the province in a corruption case with an estimated state loss of 300 trillion IDR (17.5 billion USD).
Calling the seizures "a proud achievement," Prabowo urged the Attorney General's Office, the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI), the Customs and Excise Office, and the Maritime Security Agency to sustain joint operations.
Last month, he instructed the TNI, National Police, and Customs and Excise Office to launch a large-scale operation in Bangka Belitung to close smuggling routes for tin products. He noted that almost 80% of the country's tin output is smuggled annually, often via small vessels.
The president estimated that ongoing enforcement could save the state up to 22 trillion IDR by the end of this year./.
