Two Koreans, nine Filipinos arrested for illegal mining

Two South Korean men and nine Filipinos were arrested for illegal mining activities in Butuan City, Agusan del Norte. The arrests were made by the Philippine National Police's Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) on March 21. The suspects were reportedly caught transporting 500 sacks of suspected copper ore. The value of the seized minerals is estimated to be around 700,000 Philippine pesos. The CIDG stated that the group did not have the necessary permits or agreements from the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB), making their actions illegal. During the operation in Barangay San Vicente, police confiscated various mining tools and materials used for illegal extraction. The suspects now face multiple charges under the Philippine Mining Act of 1995, including illegal exploration and transporting minerals without permission. A CIDG official emphasized their commitment to enforcing the law against both local and foreign violators. They encourage the public to report any environmental crimes, including illegal mining and fishing, to help curb such activities.