KUALA LUMPUR: Bukit Aman has uncovered 24 illegal mining sites and arrested 99 people in a nationwide operation targeting illegal extraction activities involving minerals such as gold, coal, sand and kaolin, with seizures valued at nearly RM119mil.
Bukit Aman Internal Security and Public Order Department (KDNKA) director Comm Datuk Seri Mohd Yusri Hassan Basri said the operation, dubbed Ops Gali Mega, was carried out nationwide from Aug 19 to 23 to curb increasingly serious illegal mining activities.
He said illegal mining not only causes environmental damage but also affects public safety, involves undocumented migrants and results in losses of government revenue.
"The operation was conducted under the National Mineral Policy, with police working together with the Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Ministry (NRES) and other enforcement agencies to combat the illegal exploitation of the country's mineral resources.
"A total of 45 mining locations across 10 states were inspected, with 24 found to be operating illegally while 21 had valid licences," he told a press conference on Thursday (Aug 27).
Comm Mohd Yusri said the largest number of illegal mines was in Sabah, involving 14 sites, followed by Sarawak with seven and Kelantan with three.
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A total of 728 personnel were deployed for the operation, comprising 507 personnel from the General Operations Force (PGA) and Police Air Wing (PGU), as well as 221 officers from nine enforcement agencies, including the Land and Mines Office, Mineral and Geoscience Department (JMG), local authorities and Inland Revenue Board (LHDN), he added.
"Six types of assets involving 131 vehicles were also deployed.
"Of the 146 individuals inspected, 99 were arrested for various offences, comprising 61 Malaysians and 38 undocumented migrants aged between 18 and 64.
"We also detected 43 offences under 14 provisions of state and federal laws, including the Sabah Land Ordinance, the Immigration Act, National Land Code and Mineral Development Act," he added.
Among the items seized were 55 vehicles, 87 pieces of heavy machinery and 194 units of other mining equipment, as well as thousands of tonnes of mineral and earth resources.
Comm Mohd Yusri said police had also identified 32 individuals and 21 companies believed to be involved in the illegal mining activities.
"Their details have been handed over to the LHDN for further investigations into possible tax evasion and revenue leakages.
"We will continue our investigations into the backgrounds of the suspects involved and refer the findings to the relevant agencies for further action," he said.
Comm Mohd Yusri said investigations were also ongoing to determine how long the illegal mining activities had been operating and whether there were links between the sites, including possible syndicate networks operating across different states.
He said police would also investigate possible foreign involvement, including allegations of overseas experts or masterminds being involved in the operations.
"If there are elements of collusion or corruption, the matter may be referred to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission for further action.
"The suspects and seized items will also be referred to the Deputy Public Prosecutor for further instructions on prosecution, compounds or forfeiture," he said.
Comm Mohd Yusri said intelligence gathering before the operation took between two weeks and a month, with information obtained through police intelligence and cooperation with other agencies.
He said authorities were also investigating possible syndicate networks and whether illegally extracted minerals were being sold through the black market.
Comm Mohd Yusri said the operation was important not only in protecting national revenue but also in safeguarding the environment from river pollution, soil erosion, forest destruction, sedimentation and damage to water catchment areas.
He added that enforcement efforts would be strengthened nationwide, particularly in border areas.
