President Prabowo has ordered the closure of 1,000 illegal tin mines in Bangka Belitung.

President Prabowo Subianto has ordered the closure of 1,000 illegal tin mines in Bangka Belitung and a comprehensive clampdown on smuggling routes. These routes have caused Indonesia to lose trillions of rupiah in revenue.

He instructed the military, police, and customs to initiate a joint operation beginning September 1. The goal is to halt exports of illegally mined tin, which make up nearly 80 percent of all shipments.

Bangka Belitung has long been a major global tin center. However, there are 1,000 illegal mines operating there. Starting September 1, I have ordered the military, police, and Customs to conduct a large-scale operation. We will shut down the 80 percent of tin that was being smuggled out," President Prabowo stated on Monday (29/9/2025)

He emphasized that this action could save the state up to Rp 22 trillion this year and Rp 45 trillion by 2026. President Prabowo also pointed out the presence of rare earth minerals in mine waste. He directed customs to hire chemists to identify and secure these valuable resources.