The Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park Management Center (TNBTS) has secured 13 individuals suspected of illegal hiking in the Mount Semeru area. This enforcement action was the result of an intensive Supervision Operation conducted by officers in the Ranupani National Park Management Resort (RPTN) area, Lumajang Regency, as well as the Taman Satriyan RPTN, Malang Regency.
Head of the TNBTS Center, Rudijanta Tjahja Nugraha, explained that his office had handed over the case to the Forestry Law Enforcement Center for the Java, Bali, and Nusa Tenggara Region. The suspected perpetrators are currently undergoing examination and the drafting of an Official Examination Report (BAP) to determine further legal action.
Based on field findings, two individuals arrested in RPTN Ranupani were found to have entered the conservation area via an unofficial trail, locally known as the 'ayek-ayek' trail. Meanwhile, 11 others were detained in the Taman Satriyan area following routine patrols conducted by officers to block access to illegal hiking routes leading to the mountain peak.
In addition to the 13 individuals, TNBTS authorities are currently pursuing four other hikers suspected of successfully entering the area via the Purbakala trail. As of this report, the TNBTS Center is still awaiting the results of the law enforcement team's investigation regarding sanctions to be imposed on the conservation rule violators.
