Authorities in Xaysomboun Province have identified four companies allegedly involved in unauthorized alluvial gold mining and processing during inspections this year, according to provincial media reports on 22 September.
The cases came to light during inspections carried out this year, with authorities finding gold extraction at sites whose permits covered other activities.
One of the companies, AFA Exploration Mining and Agriculture Trading Export-Import, allegedly processed gold in Thathom District under a permit for extracting stone, sand, and associated minerals.
Another company, Kesana Herchaleun, was allegedly extracting alluvial gold at a stone and sand processing site in Nam Mo Village, Anouvong District.
Authorities seized equipment at the site and detained seven people, including the company’s president and six Lao workers, in an operation in June.
Two other companies, Vietnam-Lao Mining Construction and Investment and Supmany Construction Road Bridge And Mineral Development, were also identified over alleged unauthorized alluvial gold extraction in Nam Yon Village.
Authorities confiscated equipment and detained suspects during the inspections, although provincial media did not give a total number of people arrested.
Officials are now calling for tighter inspections to make sure companies stick to the activities covered by their permits.
Gold Mining Under Scrutiny
The cases add to a growing number of illegal mining investigations across Laos this year.
In July, the government suspended Daochalearn Mineral Processing after finding unauthorized iron ore operations that had muddied the Nam Song River in Vang Vieng. The company was ordered to stop work and restore the affected areas.
Authorities have also investigated suspected illegal gold mining in Luang Prabang and Xieng Khouang, while Savannakhet launched a wider operation targeting illegal gold mining and logging.
The latest cases in Xaysomboun show the focus is not only on unlicensed mining, but also on companies allegedly going beyond what their existing permits allow.
