The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) raided an illegal gold mining site in the Ogunlepa, Oluwa Forest Reserve, Odigbo Local Government Area of Ondo State.
The Corps arrested four suspects during the raid in the act of illegally mining gold in a Government Reserved Area.
The suspect confessed to the security agency during interrogation that they lacked the necessary licenses or authorization to carry out their operations.
The Corps said the suspects have since been charged to the Federal High Court, Abuja.
The Mining Marshal Commander ACC AJ Onoja urged those still involved in illegal activities in the mining sector to turn a new leaf and comply with the relevant sections of the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act (NNMA) to regularise their operations, stressing that the resolve of the Federal Government to wielding the big stick is unflinching.