Authorities seized 23 excavators and other equipment during two raids on suspected illegal gold mining sites in Sangthong District, Vientiane Capital, according to Lao Security Media.
The raids took place from 23 to 26 September and 9 to 11 October, covering 10 sites across two villages.
Officers also seized seven gold-filtering screens, three generators, two trucks, three air-conditioned containers, and 127 gold-filter carpets used in gold recovery.
In Vangma village, inspectors found two more mining sites near Tad Vangma Waterfall, a local tourist attraction.
Authorities are investigating who ran and financed the sites and whether local people helped the operations. They have not announced any charges.
Illegal Gold Mining Across Laos
The raids come amid a wider crackdown on unauthorised mining that followed cases in several provinces earlier this year.
In July, the Ministry of Industry and Commerce ordered a nationwide crackdown after inspectors uncovered suspected illegal gold mining in Luang Prabang. The ministry told companies and the public to stop unauthorised mining and warned that violators could face legal action.
During inspections on 10 and 11 June, officials found suspected illegal alluvial gold mining sites in Phonxay and Pak Ou districts. Authorities detained five people at the Pak Ou site and seized mining equipment. Two Vietnamese nationals had also been arrested during an earlier operation in Phonxay.
Other cases have emerged across the country. In September, authorities in Xaysomboun identified four companies suspected of extracting alluvial gold under permits for stone and sand processing.
In July, the Ministry of Industry and Commerce suspended Daochalearn Mineral Processing after unauthorised iron ore operations muddied the Nam Song River in Vang Vieng.
On 1 October, President Thongloun Sisoulith also called for stronger action against illegal mining, logging, and unauthorised vehicle imports during a meeting of the 12th Party Central Committee.
The latest raids add to a series of enforcement actions as authorities investigate suspected illegal mining in multiple provinces.
