Business · Philippines Bureau
Authorities seize 1,600 sacks of illegally mined ore at Dipolog port
Customs and mining enforcement officials in Zamboanga del Sur have impounded nearly 1,600 sacks of mineral ore suspected to have come from illegal mining operations. The contraband was discovered aboard three wing van trucks at Dipolog City Port on Thursday evening.
LSN Philippines ·
The interception marks the latest crackdown on unlicensed mining activities in the Mindanao region, where illegal ore extraction has become an ongoing concern for environmental and revenue authorities. Investigators determined that the mineral ore shipment originated from an area designated as a "minahang bayan," or people's small-scale mining zone, in Zamboanga del Sur province.
The three commercial trucks were bound for export when they were stopped at the Dipolog City Port during a routine inspection. Officials seized the entire cargo following the discovery that proper documentation authorizing the extraction and transport of the minerals could not be produced.
Small-scale mining operations in designated community areas are permitted under Philippine law, but strict regulations govern the extraction, processing, and sale of ore. Authorities continue to investigate whether the operation had proper licensing or whether miners exceeded authorized extraction limits.
The seizure comes as national and local government agencies intensify efforts to combat illegal mining, which drains government revenues and causes significant environmental degradation across Mindanao's mining-rich provinces.