English
KOTA BARU: Police have confirmed that the 38 people detained for conducting rare earth elements (REE) mining activities in Gua Musang were among 55 arrested under Op Khazanah in Kelantan and Selangor.
Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Razarudin Husain said the Dec 9 integrated operation involving various agencies covered three separate locations — two in Kelantan and the other in Selangor.
He said the 55 included 41 foreigners of various nationality and 14 locals.
“Forty-six of them were detained in Kelantan while the rest were arrested in Selangor.The 46 individuals in Kelantan were arrested at a mining area and a store in Felda Aring, Gua Musang,” he said today.
During the operation, said Razarudin, police also seized 269 gunny sacks containing REE material and mining equipments.”The seized materials have been handed over to the Mineral and Geosciences Department for further action,” he said.
He added that investigations against the foreigners were also being carried out under Section 6(1)(d) of the Immigration Act 1959/63.
“The locals are also being investigated under the Immigration Act for harbouring illegal immigrants,” he added.
Razarudin said the operations were to ensure such activities were eradicated so that the country’s revenue would not fall into the hands of irresponsible parties.
Kelantan Deputy Menteri Besar Datuk Dr Mohamed Fadzil Hassan had earlier today said the authorities on Monday arrested 29 illegal immigrants and nine locals for conducting rare earth elements (REE) mining activities in a permanent forest reserve in Gua Musang.
He said several heavy machineries and other equipments for the REE mining activities were also seized in the operation.
“Source:New Straits Times”
