KOTA BARU: The Kelantan State Forestry Department detained eight people including four foreigners for encroaching into the state forest reserve to carry out gold mining activity yesterday.
Its director Datuk Zahari Ibrahim said the eight, aged between 18 and 48, were detained by the department's enforcement officers at Sokor area in Tanah Merah.
He said about RM100,000 worth of mining equipment and tools including iron trays and an excavator were also seized in the 11am operation.
“Initial investigation showed that the foreigners and the four locals have been entering the forest reserve to mine the gold since last month.
“They worked with a licensed company but they (the eight) had entered the forest without any permit.
“Any individual must apply for a permit from the department before entering the state forest reserve," he said here today.
Zahari said the eight were found to have committed an offence under Section 47 of the National Forest Act for entering any forest reserve without any permit and another offence under Section 81 of the same Act for taking mineral products without approval.