Kuala betis: The General Operations Force (GOF) seized equipment worth RM1.135 million believed to have been used for illegal gold mining and arrested four men, including a Chinese national, in a raid at the Kuala Betis Resettlement Scheme (RPS) here yesterday.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Southeast Brigade commander SAC Ahmad Radzi Hussain stated that the raid was conducted around 4 pm by the brigade's intelligence team under Ops Gali Mega (Eastern Zone). The team discovered two excavators, sluice boxes, suction machines, generator sets, 51 pieces of grass carpet in various sizes, and three rolls of grass carpet, all presumably used for gold mining operations.

Ahmad Radzi noted that one of the suspects presented a copy of a permit application for sand extraction from Sungai Nenggiri, Mukim Kuala Betis, dated January 31, 2024. However, initial investigations suggested that the permit was likely misused for gold mining activities.

No minerals or raw gold were discovered at the site. The case is currently being investigated under Section 158 of the Enactment of Minerals (Kelantan) 2001. Ahmad Radzi reported that all seized equipment has been transferred to the Kelantan Land and Mines Office for further action.