8 Tons of Illegal Tin Sand Seized at East Belitung Port, Driver and Laborer Arrested

BANGKA, KOMPAS.com - Authorities seized 8 tons of illegal tin sand during a raid at Roda Emas Port, Lenggang, East Belitung, Bangka Belitung Islands.

The tin sand, packed in 160 plastic sacks, was suspected of being smuggled to smelters outside the region.

"We thwarted the smuggling of 160 kampil of tin sand weighing approximately 8 tons," said Bangka Belitung Police Public Relations Head, Kombes Agus Sugiyarso, on Friday (18/9/2026) at the police headquarters.

Agus revealed that the anti-smuggling operation at Roda Emas Port was conducted on Wednesday (16/9/2026) around 6:30 p.m. local time.

The team conducted initial checks and gathered information until it was confirmed that illegal mining products were involved.

"Two individuals were detained: HL (51), the driver, and AD (25), the laborer. Both are currently undergoing interrogation by investigators," Agus said.

He emphasized that the hundreds of kampil of tin sand seized were intended to be shipped out of the Bangka Belitung Province.

"Based on initial information, this illegal tin sand was transported from a warehouse to the port, planned to be loaded onto a ship and smuggled out of Belitung," Agus explained.

The suspected perpetrators and the evidence were taken to the East Belitung Police headquarters for further investigation.

"The two suspects will be transferred to the Water and Air Police Command of the Babel Regional Police, while the 160 kampil of tin sand evidence has been deposited with GPT PT Timah in Gantung, East Belitung," Agus concluded.