Illegal bauxite mining bust: Nine arrested, $923,000 in assets confiscated

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Nine people have been arrested after authorities uncovered an alleged illegal bauxite mining operation at an oil palm plantation in Felda Bukit Goh, Pahang, during an enforcement raid.

The operation, resulted in the seizure of machinery, documents and an estimated 10,000 tonnes of bauxite-bearing soil. The total value of the confiscated items and minerals has been put at around USD 0.92 million.

General Operations Force (GOF) Southeast Brigade commander Ahmad Radzi Hussain said the suspects comprised four Malaysians and five foreign nationals. The foreigners were unable to produce valid identification documents or work permits during inspections and have since been handed over to the Kuantan police for further action.

 The raid was conducted jointly by the intelligence branch of the GOF's 7th Battalion in Kuantan, the Pahang State Enforcement Unit and the Criminal Investigation Division of the Kuantan district police. The four Malaysian suspects, along with all the seized evidence, have been referred to the state enforcement unit as investigations continue.

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Among the items confiscated were three dumper trucks, two excavators and six documents believed to be linked to the operation. Officers also secured two large stockpiles of soil suspected to contain bauxite.
Investigators collected samples from the site, which will be analysed by the Department of Minerals and Geoscience to determine their composition. Authorities also ordered all work at the plantation to stop immediately while inquiries are ongoing.

Early investigations indicate that the land belongs to a Felda settler but had been leased to a company in March. The agreement was reportedly intended to facilitate land clearing and replanting activities.

However, investigators believe the site was instead being used for unauthorised bauxite extraction. Preliminary findings revealed that the material was taken to a processing plant in Gebeng, Kuantan, before being sold to buyers. Authorities are now trying to determine the extent of the operation and whether other persons or companies were involved. The investigation is still ongoing.

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