Savannakhet:Provincial police, in collaboration with Vilabouly District police, conducted an inspection at the Khounmixay Wood Processing Factory in Houaysouan Village, Vilabouly District, earlier this month. During this operation, 11 individuals, including one woman, were detained on suspicion of illegally concealing and trading mineral resources.

According to Lao News Agency, those arrested included six Lao nationals, four Vietnamese nationals, and one Chinese national. The authorities seized a significant amount of evidence from the site, including 115 tonnes of raw mineral rocks, 40 tonnes of acid-treated mineral ore, and various equipment such as ore-crushing machines and a small smelting unit.

Additionally, police confiscated several chemical containers, including five of sulfuric acid and seven of liquid hydrogen, as well as 125 kilograms of carbon dioxide-related chemicals, seven bags of polyethylene resin, 125 kilograms of ammonium chloride, 60 kilograms of zinc used in gold separation, and 66 tablets suspected to be methamphetamine.

In a separate operation on October 10, authorities inspected the Lao Xiuyuan Plastic and Rubber Processing Factory in Nacalit Village, Kaysone Phomvihane City. This was in response to reports of illegal mineral trading and concealment. Officers discovered crushed minerals stored in 45 large bags and approximately 58 tonnes of uncrushed minerals in additional bags. Seized items also included five mineral-crushing machines and a four-door pickup truck.

Two individuals, one of whom was a woman, were detained for questioning in connection with this operation. The police stated that these efforts are part of a broader initiative to combat illegal mineral activities in the region, and investigations are ongoing.