Indonesian police shut a tin smelter owned by CV Makmur Jaya on Thursday morning on suspicion of illegally processing tin ore obtained from outside the firm’s mining area, Reuters reported. Norman Widjajadi, head of Bangka police, told reporters: "We suspect the smelter obtained the tin ore illegally. We are questioning two managers from the smelter." The police seized 40 tonnes of tin ingot and 63 tonnes of tin concentrate from the smelter’s warehouse.
When asked if police would extend the operation to other smelters, Widjajadi said it would depend on reports of illegal mining. "We are investigating one smelter so far. There is no indication that it also happens in other smelters," he said. CV Makmur Jaya is one of 31 companies licensed by the trade ministry to export tin, having received its licence in November 2008.
