258 arrested, over 2,000 illegal mining equipment seized in forest reserve crackdown

The Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources says intensified operations against illegal mining in forest reserves have led to the arrest of 258 suspects and the seizure or destruction of hundreds of pieces of equipment used in illegal mining activities. The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources disclosed this during the Government Accountability Series at the Presidency on Wednesday, July 15, 2026, saying the enforcement exercise was conducted in collaboration with the Forestry Commission…