Kampar: A total of 27 individuals were arrested during a raid in Kampar yesterday for allegedly carrying out illegal tin mining activities, with seizures involving an estimated value of RM28.73 million. General Operations Force (GOF) Northern Brigade Commander SAC Shahrum Hashim stated that the raid was executed by the Intelligence Branch of Northern Brigade GOF, in collaboration with the Perak Land and Mines Director's Office and the Perak Minerals and Geosciences Department under the Khazanah Integrated Operation.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, investigations indicated that these illegal activities have been ongoing since July 2024. Those detained include eight Malaysians aged between 19 and 76, with one of them being a 76-year-old woman, alongside 19 foreign nationals, including a Chinese national quarry site manager. The inspections revealed that all foreign workers had violated immigration regulations by using their visit passes to enter and work in the country.

The arrests involved seven local men aged between 19 and 76, a 76-year-old local woman, 10 Chinese national men aged between 32 and 62, eight Bangladeshi men aged between 28 and 44, and a 33-year-old Nepali man. The seizure included tin ore weighing an estimated 4.5 tonnes, 60 jumbo bags containing rough minerals weighing approximately 30 tonnes, various types of tin processing machines, and machinery used for quarry work, with an estimated value of RM28,732,000.

Shahrum further explained that the case is being investigated under Section 426 of the National Land Code (Act 828) and the Perak Mineral Enactment 2003. Meanwhile, the foreigners are under investigation for violating the conditions of their stay under Section 15(1)(c) of the Immigration Act 1959/63 and for abusing their visit passes under Regulation 39B of the Immigration Regulations.