Manila, Sept. 24 -- Police have arrested nine Chinese nationals in a joint law enforcement operation against illegal mining activities in Aroroy, Masbate.

In a statement Wednesday, acting Philippine National Police chief Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said the nine suspects were nabbed during a joint law enforcement operation in Barangay Cabangcalan and Barangay Pangle, both in Aroroy on Sept. 22.

Authorities seized from the suspects heavy equipment used in the operations, including five dump trucks, six backhoes, one Sino truck trailer, two loaders, a generator set, two unserviceable SUVs, and one pickup truck.

The apprehended foreign nationals were turned over to the Bureau of Immigration for documentation, profiling, and approp...