Ha Tinh: Inspecting and handling illegal gold mining sites at Moong Coong hill

Authorities discovered gold mining machines and tools at Moong Coong hill.

On November 27, information from the People's Committee of Ky Thuong commune ( Ha Tinh province) said that the commune's interdisciplinary inspection team, including police, land and environment officers, officers of the cultural department and grassroots security forces, had just conducted a field inspection at Moong Coong hill area (Son Trung 2 village), where people reported that illegal gold mining had been taking place recently.

Authorities discovered a camp and belongings left behind at Moong Coong hill.

Through on-site inspection, the interdisciplinary inspection team discovered a number of pits, tunnels, and rock and soil gathering areas, along with evidence of machinery, tools, camps, and related items serving illegal gold mining activities.

At the time of inspection, no one was found mining gold in the area.

The deep tunnel area that the subjects used to illegally mine gold at Moong Coong hill

After the inspection and review process, the interdisciplinary inspection team made a record of the scene and destroyed on the spot the camp, tools, items, and related vehicles used for illegal gold mining.

Authorities discovered machines and tools used for illegal gold mining.

Initially, it was determined that illegal gold mining activities in the Moong Coong hill area have been taking place secretly recently.

These subjects often take advantage of the dark to bring people and vehicles into the forest to mine gold to avoid inspection, detection and handling by local authorities and functional forces.

Authorities handle and destroy camps and related tools and equipment used for illegal gold mining at Moong Coong hill.

The People's Committee of Ky Thuong commune continues to direct the functional forces and departments to increase surprise inspections, closely monitor areas at risk of illegal gold mining activities, and resolutely handle violations. At the same time, call on people to raise awareness of resource protection, absolutely not participate in or assist in illegal gold mining; proactively provide information when detecting signs of violations for timely handling.

Handling and destroying tents and items at the scene at Moong Coong hill

Moong Coong Hill is located in a deep, rugged forest, about 6-7km from the commune's administrative center. The road is very difficult to travel, from the bus stop to the scene, it takes about 40-50 minutes on foot.

Previously, this area was a “hot spot” for illegal gold mining, causing environmental pollution. Afterwards, the local government coordinated with functional forces to drastically implement measures to sweep, handle, and expel gold miners from the area, and at the same time, remove and destroy the pits at the scene.

>> Image of functional forces checking at Moong Coong hill area