Authorities issue a fine of $8.5 billion after uncovering a criminal operation in the forest: “The journey is difficult”

Indonesia is witnessing the largest crackdown on illegal use of forests in the country’s history. As a result, the government could soon collect up to $8.5 billion in fines throughout 2026 from palm oil and mining companies operating in protected forest areas.

like I mentioned Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto’s forestry task force had a very busy year in 2025, specifically targeting a number of illegal palm oil operations within the country. The campaign has already succeeded in reclaiming large areas of land from a number of illegal farms and mines.

During a press conference, Prosecutor Senitir Burhanuddin praised the efforts of the task force, which was composed of military personnel, police, prosecutors and government officials. Burhanuddin revealed that more than 4.1 million hectares of land have been reclaimed as part of the sprawling campaign.

Of that reclaimed land, 240,500 hectares were transferred to state-run palm oil company Agrenas Palma Nusantara, which now owns more than 1.7 hectares of land, making it the world’s largest palm oil company by area.

While this signals widespread regulation of the palm oil industry and a major enforcement campaign against deforestation, Indonesian officials are also looking forward to a huge payday. Burhanuddin noted that fines of more than 2.34 trillion rupiah, or about $140 million, have already been collected from 20 palm oil companies and one nickel miner.

But this amount could be just a drop in the bucket after all is said and done.

“For 2026, there is potential revenue from administrative fines from palm oil plantations and mines within forest areas, amounting to Rp 109.6 trillion. [$6.54 billion] for palm oil and 32.63 trillion rupees [$1.95 billion] for mining” He said Burhan al-Din.

Despite the challenges surrounding the government’s ongoing initiative to promote and effectively manage palm oil resources, Prabowo remained confident that the country would continue to move in the right direction.

“Although the work and the journey are difficult, I have an instinct that in 2026 we will take bolder steps… We will save the wealth of this nation without hesitation,” Prabowo said. He said.

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