BUTUAN CITY, Oct. 15 -- Authorities arrested 18 people, including eight Chinese nationals, and seized an estimated PHP153 million worth of heavy equipment and other items during a large-scale anti-illegal mining operation in Barangay Mabini, Surigao City on Wednesday.

The Police Regional Office (PRO) - Caraga Region said Thursday that the operation confiscated mining equipment, vehicles, firearms, and other paraphernalia allegedly used in illegal mining activities.

The eight arrested Chinese nationals were identified as alias Chow, 53; Chao, 58; Hao, 39; Long, 51; and Tsua Peng, 53, all residents of Hunan, China; Yong, 53, and Wen, 52, both residents of Ganzu, China; and Wan, 33, of Guangzhou, China.

Of the 10 Filipinos arrested, four...