Illegal gold mining crackdown in Cambodia sees 100 sites closed

Officials inspect an illegal gold mining site in Mondulkiri’s Keo Seima district, as part of a Nov 3-7 operation that closed down around 100 sites. - Provincial administration

PHNOM PENH: Around 100 illegal gold mining sites in Mondulkiri province’s Me Sam area, near Pu Tong village of Keo Seima district’s Chong Plas commune, have been raided by authorities since Nov 3. The operation aimed to eliminate unauthorised mining, which often involves the use of dangerous chemicals or explosives.

The operation involved a combined force of more than over 50 personnel. Drawn from the provincial administration, the Anti-Corruption Unit, the armed forces and the Ministry of Mines and Energy, among others, the provincial team was led by Chhit Sophal, deputy director of the provincial administration.