Authorities have dismantled several alleged illegal mineral processing sites in Barangay Nalus, Kiamba, Sarangani.

The operations were carried out by personnel of the Sarangani Police Provincial Office and Mines and Geosciences Bureau-SOCCSKSARGEN (MGB-12).

During the operations, the team discovered various mining and mineral processing equipment.

In Sitio Opal alone, authorities found and dismantled at least six tumbling mills.

According to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-SOCCSKSARGEN (DENR-12), the operation extended to nearby areas where two more mills were discovered in Sitio Banate and another in Sitio Kafugan.

The operating team also located two heavy-duty diesel engines and an improvised sluice box.

Authorities dismantled the machinery on-site to ensure these sites could no longer operate.

Aside from equipment, the team also seized around 32 sacks of mineral that had been extracted illegally and specialized mining tools, including a blowtorch set with a blower, a pulley system, settling mats, and headlamps.

The seized items were turned over to the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO)

“The entire activity was conducted in accordance with MGB MC No. 2018-01, which outlines the guidelines for the apprehension, seizure, and confiscation of illegally sourced minerals, mineral products, and by-products, as well as the tools, conveyances, and equipment used in such activities,” DENR-12 said.