InfoSAWIT, PALANGKARAYA — The Central Kalimantan Regional Police have raised their alert level against crimes in oil palm plantation areas in 2026, following a sharp rise in cases recorded last year.

Central Kalimantan Police Chief Inspector General Iwan Kurniawan, through Head of Public Relations Erlan Munaji, said authorities handled at least 118 palm plantation crime cases in 2025.

“This represents an increase of about 37 percent compared to 2024, when around 74 cases were recorded,” Erlan said, according to Antara as cited by InfoSAWIT on Tuesday (January 6, 2026).

He emphasized that rising crime in plantation areas poses serious risks to investment and directly affects palm oil productivity in the province.

“If prevention is not strengthened, palm oil output from Central Kalimantan will decline. That’s why we are stepping up efforts to prevent plantation crimes,” he said.

Beyond criminal cases, the police, together with the Garuda Task Force, have conducted Forest Area Enforcement Operations targeting 309 palm oil cooperatives managing 619,806 hectares. The operations triggered various on-the-ground dynamics.

Erlan said the impacts included nine blockades by community groups, 142 intergroup land disputes, 307 police reports related to FFB theft or looting, and six protest actions.

“We continue to analyze and evaluate the situation so that similar cases can be reduced in 2026,” he said.

He stressed the importance of preventive approaches to keep communities from engaging in criminal acts, noting that plantation crimes are influenced by complex social and economic factors.

“If prevention fails, we will proceed with law enforcement,” Erlan said.

Currently, police often respond to special security requests from plantation owners, which poses challenges given the vast plantation areas in Central Kalimantan.

“This cannot be handled through routine duties alone. Special security measures are required in plantation zones,” he concluded. (T2)