A Jakarta Globe investigation in 2012 revealed that the illegal mining operation in the area has reached an industrial scale involving thousands of miners who risk death and arrest with nothing more than simple hand tools and no protective gear or safety procedures.
The illegal mining in Pongkor has also contributed to massive environmental damage, with miners clearing forests and using mercury to extract the gold from the dirt, polluting a nearby stream.
Suyudi said police were investigating how the miners were able to return to Pongkor, just a week after the latest crackdown. Local police earlier said they would station several officers to patrol the area.
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