Six Myanmar Nationals Arrested for Unlicensed Excavation at Iron Ore Mine

KUANTAN: Six Myanmar men were arrested on suspicion of carrying out unlicensed excavation and earth-moving activities at an iron ore mining site in the Sungai Lik area of Lipis on Wednesday.

Southeast Brigade General Operations Force (GOF) Commander Senior Assistant Commissioner Ahmad Radzi Hussain said the raid, conducted under the Integrated Ops Khazanah at about 2.30 pm, also resulted in the seizure of heavy machinery comprising an excavator, five sand trucks and a loader, with a total estimated value of more than RM1.22 million.

He said the operation was carried out by personnel from the Intelligence Branch of the GOF 7th Battalion with assistance from officers and personnel of the Pahang State Enforcement Unit (UPNP).

“Further inspection of the area led to the discovery of heavy machinery used to carry out excavation activities,” he said in a statement on Thursday.

Ahmad Radzi said the suspects also failed to produce any approval documents related to the activities being carried out.

“Based on investigations at the scene, all the men claimed they had been working as labourers at the site since 2024 under a local man.

“They claimed they were paid RM10 an hour and worked about 13 hours a day,” he said.

He said checks revealed that the excavation and earth-moving activities had been carried out for the past month without any valid licence or approval from the local authorities and the Pahang state government.

“All the arrested men were handed over to the police, while the seized items were handed over to UPNP for further action and investigation,” he said.

According to him, the case is being investigated under Section 426(1) of the National Land Code (Act 828) and Section 6(1)(c) of the Immigration Act 1959/63.

Sinar Harian