The Department of Environment and Natural Resources on Friday reported that it raided an illegal mining operation in Misamis Oriental and arrested 18 individuals including five Chinese nationals.

DENR Secretary Antonia Loyzaga said they have also seized heavy equipment that is believed to have damaged the roughly 7.6 hectares of land along the Iponan River in Opol town.

Loyzaga said the raid was carried out by joint operatives from DENR Region 10 led by Regional Executive Director Henry Adornado and DENR Undersecretary for Field Operations-Mindanao Joselin Marcus Fragada, as well as the Mines and Geosciences Bureau; North Eastern Mindanao Regional Office of the National Bureau of Investigation and the special forces of the Philippine Army 4th Infantry Division.

She added that reports of the illegal activities were first received by the field team of Adornado and were confirmed through DENR’s satellite imagery at the DENR Central Office.

Loyzaga showed satellite imagery that depicted massive excavations and forest destruction.