RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta – The Indonesian government, through a joint operation between the Sumatra Forestry Law Enforcement of the Ministry of Forestry and the Indonesian Navy, has successfully thwarted the smuggling of approximately 200 tons of illegal mangrove charcoal. The operation took place in the waters of Selat Panjang, Meranti Islands, Riau Province, Thursday, March 5, 2026.

Director General of Forestry Law Enforcement of the Ministry of Forestry, Dwi Januanto Nugroho, commended the close collaboration as a concrete step in protecting natural resources from illegal networks that cause significant state losses.

"This synergy is clear evidence of the government's commitment to salvaging our natural resources from parties seeking personal gain," Dwi Januanto stated on Wednesday, March 11, 2026.

All evidence has been secured for further processing by Forestry Law Enforcement. "We will continue to investigate the owners of the charcoal, the intellectual actors behind the operation, and the beneficial owners involved to ensure such incidents do not recur," he said.

In addition, Dwi Januanto added that mangrove ecosystems serve as a natural defense against coastal erosion and provide critical habitats for marine life. He warned that large-scale destruction of mangroves could trigger ecological disasters, threatening the economic sustainability of coastal communities.

Meanwhile, the Head of the Sumatra Forestry Law Enforcement Office, Hari Novianto, explained that the operation began with intelligence regarding the movement of the vessel KLM Samudera Indah Jaya GT. 172, which was heading to Malaysia without legal documents. The vessel, captained by a man identified as AP (42), has been handed over to investigators for legal proceedings.

"Based on the joint case review with the Riau Police, the status of this case has been elevated to a formal investigation. The suspects face a maximum of five years in prison and a fine of up to 2.5 billion rupiah," Novianto conveyed.

The smuggling attempt is estimated to have caused a state loss of approximately 4.6 billion rupiah. Ecologically, the production of 200 tons of charcoal is suspected to have required the cutting of about 4,000 to 4,500 mature mangrove trees. Authorities are currently securing all evidence to fully dismantle the network behind these illegal activities.