RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - The Directorate General of Law Enforcement at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) has seized 50,000 tons of coal suspected to have been extracted from illegal mining operations in Kutai Kartanegara, East Kalimantan.

The massive stockpile has been secured as state assets following a coordinated two-day crackdown.

The coal was discovered at six different sites, including private jetties and active mining areas in the Loa Kulu and Sebulu subdistricts. The operation, conducted on January 14–15, 2026, is part of a broader government effort to combat unregulated mining in the mineral-rich province.

Director General of Law Enforcement Jeffri Huwae said on Tuesday, January 20, that the sites are now under strict government control. “The coal stockpile has been secured by installing barricades and seals from the ESDM Directorate General of Law Enforcement, along with prohibition signs declaring the stockpile as a state asset,” he explained, as quoted by Antara.

The ministry has established a legal process to ensure the seized coal contributes to the national treasury. Investigators will first conduct a traceability audit to determine the origin of the coal and identify those responsible for the illegal mining.

Independent surveyors and authorized agencies will then carry out a quality and quantity assessment to verify the tonnage and market value. Once these steps are completed, the coal will be auctioned publicly through transparent bidding.

Proceeds from the auction will be deposited directly into the state treasury as Non-Tax State Revenue, specifically allocated to the energy and mineral resources sector.

The raid was marked by close cooperation between civil and military authorities, involving personnel from the VI/Mulawarman Military Command, the East Kalimantan Regional Police, and the Directorate General of Minerals and Coal.

Jeffri emphasized that the operation reflects the government’s zero-tolerance policy toward illegal mining, ensuring that national resources benefit the state rather than unauthorized syndicates. The crackdown concluded smoothly without significant resistance, representing a major victory for mineral law enforcement in 2026. ***