Indonesia losing up to US$2.4 billion a year from illegal tin activities, president says

The Indonesian leader ordered the authorities to step up enforcement earlier in October in islands rich in the metal. - AFP

JAKARTA: Illegal tin mining and the smuggling of tin ore are costing Indonesia's government about 30 trillion to 40 trillion rupiah (US$1.8 billion-US$2.4 billion) per year, President Prabowo Subianto said on Monday (Oct 20) as he called for action to "save all of Indonesia's wealth."

Prabowo, speaking at a ceremony where the Attorney General handed over to the government 13 trillion rupiah that was seized during a graft case against three palm oil companies, said authorities needed to pursue more cases of misconduct in natural resources sectors.