LEGAL BRIEF
Vol. 14 No. 5 (2025): December: Law Science and Field

West Papua Regional Police Efforts in Handling Illegal Mining Crimes in Manokwari Regency

Sroyer, Dance Markus (Unknown)
Balubun, Daud Daniel (Unknown)
Hammar, Imanuel I.R. (Unknown)



Article Info

Publish Date
06 Dec 2025

Abstract

This study examines the efforts of the West Papua Regional Police in addressing illegal mining crimes in Manokwari Regency, a region rich in mineral resources yet vulnerable to environmental degradation and social conflict. Illegal mining persists due to economic pressures, weak governance, difficult geographical access, and limited enforcement capacity. Using a normative juridical approach supported by statutory, conceptual, and case analyses, this research identifies that illegal mining has caused severe ecological damage particularly river pollution and forest destruction—while generating social tensions related to indigenous land rights and depriving the local government of potential revenue. The West Papua Regional Police implement both penal and non-penal strategies grounded in the Mineral and Coal Mining Law and the National Police Law. Penal measures include investigation, prosecution, confiscation of mining equipment, and disruption of illegal logistics chains. Non-penal efforts involve preventive education, community outreach, and coordination with local stakeholders. However, enforcement remains constrained by socio-economic dependence on mining and resistance from customary communities. The study concludes that sustainable mitigation requires integrated law enforcement combined with government-supported economic empowerment programs to reduce community reliance on illegal mining.

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Journal Info

Abbrev

legal

Publisher

Subject

Law, Crime, Criminology & Criminal Justice

Description

The LEGAL BRIEF is a publication that is published every half-yearly and is intended as a forum for the exchange of ideas, studies and studies, as well as being a conduit of information, for the purpose of developing the development of legal science and those related to law in Indonesia. This ...