Enviro News Asia, Jakarta – In response to information circulating on social media, including a post on Instagram @Mountnesia titled “Cannabis Field Found on Mount Kerinci 2025,” the Kerinci Seblat National Park Authority (BBTNKS) has confirmed that the 19 cannabis plants discovered in Sungai Dalam Village, Kayu Aro District, Kerinci Regency, Jambi Province, were not located within the Kerinci Seblat National Park (TNKS) area, but rather outside of it.
In a press release issued by the Ministry of Forestry, Head of BBTNKS Haidir emphasized that the location where the cannabis plants were found lies within an APL (Other Use Area), not within the Mount Kerinci region or the Kerinci Seblat National Park boundaries.
“Based on field verification by the TNKS SMART Patrol Team on Sunday, May 11, 2025, the coordinates of the cannabis plant findings were (X 757069 and Y 9797535), (X 757067 and Y 979536), and (X 757069 and X 979539).
When these coordinates were plotted on a map, it was confirmed that they are located outside the TNKS area, as shown on the location map,” he added.
This was further confirmed in a phone call between Kayu Aro Police Chief (AKP Rama Indra) and the Head of TNKS Regional Management Section I (David, SH, M.Hum) on Sunday, May 11, 2025, who also stated that the cannabis plants were found in Sungai Dalam Village, not in Mount Kerinci and not within TNKS territory.
The discovery originated from a tip-off by local residents. Acting on the report, on Wednesday, April 30, 2025, at around 3:00 PM local time, members of the Kerinci Police arrived at the location and conducted a sweep of the farmland in Sungai Dalam Village.
They found 19 cannabis plants, each approximately 1.5 meters tall. The plants were uprooted and taken to Kerinci Police Headquarters for further investigation.
Regarding this incident, Haidir stated that the TNKS SMART Patrol Team conducts regular security patrols throughout the national park area.
“The TNKS SMART Patrol Team is currently re-sweeping the area to enhance security and monitoring, ensuring that no cannabis or other illegal plants exist within the TNKS area,” he stressed.
