The Directorate of Economic and Special Crimes of the Criminal Investigation Agency of the Indonesian National Police confiscated 362 drums or around 18.1 tons of illegal sodium cyanide and named two suspects in a case of alleged illegal trading of hazardous chemicals.
The Director of Economic and Special Crimes at the Indonesian National Police's Criminal Investigation Agency, Brigadier General Ade Safri Simanjuntak, stated in Tangerang on Tuesday that the case was uncovered following an investigation into alleged illegal cyanide trafficking to illegal gold miners in several regions.
"There are allegations of illegal cyanide trade to unlicensed gold miners in several regions in Indonesia, which is suspected to be imported from China," said Ade Safri.
He explained that investigators searched three locations suspected of being used for storing and distributing the chemical in Bekasi and Jakarta, after obtaining information regarding the circulation of cyanide that did not comply with licensing requirements and was distributed outside of government oversight mechanisms.
