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| Six Suspects Arrested in Illegal Mangrove Logging Case in Lingga. |
What was supposed to protect the coastline ended up becoming a target of illegal exploitation. Police in Lingga, Riau Islands, have officially cracked down on a mangrove logging operation that threatened the local ecosystem.
The Lingga Police, under the Riau Islands Regional Police, have named six individuals as suspects in an illegal mangrove logging case that took place in Tanjung Kelit Village, North Lingga District.
Lingga Police Chief AKBP Pahala Martua Nababan confirmed that all six suspects are residents of Linau Village, North Lingga. “Yes, we have formally designated six people as suspects,” he said on Friday (January 30, 2026).
The suspects are identified as L alias S (53), MK (18), IK (30), AJ (52), DH (29), and N (40). According to police, each suspect played a different role in the operation.
Suspect L is believed to be the main coordinator. He allegedly organized the workers, financed the operation, and acted as the buyer of the mangrove wood. MK served as the boat captain transporting the logs, IK handled loading and unloading, while AJ worked as a crew member and cook. Meanwhile, DH and N were directly involved in cutting down the mangrove trees.
“All six suspects are currently being detained as part of the investigation,” the police chief stated.
The suspects are charged under Law No. 18 of 2013 on the Prevention and Eradication of Forest Destruction. The boat crew members face charges under Article 82 paragraph (1), carrying a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison and fines of up to Rp10 billion. They are also charged under Article 88 paragraph 1A, which carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and fines up to Rp2.5 billion.
As the alleged financier and coordinator, suspect L faces heavier charges. He is charged under Article 82 paragraph (1) with a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and fines up to Rp10 billion, as well as Article 87 paragraph 1C, which adds a possible five-year prison sentence and Rp2.5 billion fine.
The case was uncovered on Monday (January 26, 2026), when police intercepted an unnamed wooden vessel in the Air Batu Sea area. The boat was found carrying 2,000 mangrove logs without legal documentation.
Further investigation revealed a much larger operation. Authorities estimate that around 8,000 mangrove logs had already been collected and stored across seven different locations in the area.
Police say the case serves as a strong warning against environmental crimes. Mangrove forests play a critical role in protecting coastal areas and supporting marine life. Illegal logging, authorities stress, puts both nature and local communities at serious risk.
