Two local police precincts conducted simultaneous operations on Friday, finding and burning the abandoned rafts.
“Illegal mining endangers communities and damages the environment. We will give no space for it in Kuantan Singingi,” Kuansing Police Chief Adjunct Senior Commissioner R Ricky Pratidiningrat said.
In Pangean, the rafts were incinerated on site in Tanah Bekali Village to render them unusable in future illegal activity.
Pangean Police Chief 1st Inspector Aman Sembiring described the action as part of their commitment to protecting the river ecosystem.
In Cerenti, Police Chief Adjunct Commissioner Benny A. Siregar and his team found three inactive dredging rafts in Pulau Bayur Village.
“All were immediately destroyed by fire and damaged beyond repair,” he said.
Authorities also urged local residents to abstain from illegal mining.
“We ask the public not to engage in unauthorized mining. This is for public safety and to preserve the rivers," Siregar said.
Kuantan River, also known as Batang Kuantan, is a major waterway in Sumatra, Indonesia.
Flowing from Sijunjung District in West Sumatra to Kuantan Singingi District in Riau, it eventually merges with the Indragiri River.
The river is widely recognized for the Pacu Jalur tradition, a centuries-old boat race celebrated as an intangible cultural heritage and a major tourism draw.
Once marred by illegal mining, Kuantan River has recently seen a recovery in its water clarity, restoring its role as a recreational site for local communities.
Related news: Indonesia to crack down on illegal mining in forest areas
Related news: Papua Police arrest 4 Chinese nationals for illegal mining in Senggi
Translator: Bayu AA, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Primayanti
Copyright © ANTARA 2025
