TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chi-mai (陳其邁) on Tuesday addressed a large-scale illegal sand and gravel excavation operation uncovered in Meinong District.

Following reports that state-owned land and farmland were being illegally excavated and refilled with construction waste, the Ciaotou District Prosecutors Office launched an investigation with the Kaohsiung City Police Department in late August, per Liberty Times. Investigators discovered excavations reaching depths of 20 meters and spanning six hectares.

Authorities uncovered illegal profits totaling NT$300 million (US$9.8 million) and seized 15 excavators used in the operation. Prosecutors also requested the detention of 13 suspects, two of whom have been approved by the court.

The operation reportedly removed earth equivalent to the volume of 542 Olympic-sized swimming pools, per UDN. Kaohsiung’s Economic Development Department has issued fines totaling NT$3 million.

Commenting on the incident, Chen reaffirmed the city government’s commitment to strictly enforce regulations on sand and gravel excavation, per CNA. He warned landowners that if their farmland is illegally excavated, they are responsible for restoring the site or risk land foreclosure.

Kaohsiung Deputy Mayor Charles Lin (林欽榮) said Monday that the city has launched a new initiative to prevent and detect similar illegal activities, per Newtalk. The plan includes installing surveillance cameras at high-risk excavation sites and deploying drones operated by the Agriculture Bureau, in collaboration with the Department of Civil Affairs.

Kuomintang Legislator Ko Chih-en (柯志恩) visited the affected areas on Friday and conveyed local concerns, per Newtalk. She highlighted potential environmental risks, including groundwater contamination from refilled construction waste, the lack of a timetable for refilling the excavated farmland, and the need to repair roads damaged by heavy machinery.

Ko also criticized the city government for its slow response, questioning how such a massive volume of earth could have been removed without earlier intervention. She faced online backlash, with critics claiming she acted only after the city took visible action, per ETtoday.

In response, Ko said she began receiving complaints in mid-July and visited the site on July 28 after being alerted by constituents that the road foundation might be at risk. During the visit, she said she realized the severity of the situation and asked city officials to inspect the site.

Ko claimed that during the officials’ visit, workers began dumping what she described as red earth of unknown origin into the excavation pits — directly in front of the inspectors.

Ko further emphasized that although the city issued fines in January and again in April, no meaningful improvements were observed. She argued that if the city had taken firm action as early as October 2022, as claimed by the Economic Development Department, the excavation site would not have earned the nickname “the Grand Canyon of Meinong.”