According to CTIA GROUP, the Department of Natural Resources of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region announced that from April 10, 2026, to December 31, 2026, five local departments will jointly carry out a special campaign to crack down on illegal mining and theft of mineral resources. This special campaign will focus on the following illegal and criminal activities:
Molybdenum mine pictures
1. Severely cracking down on illegal exploration without permits, mining without permits, mining beyond boundaries, and replacing mining with exploration; and the extraction of mineral resources not in accordance with the types specified in mining licenses. The campaign will focus on rectifying the illegal mining of strategic minerals such as rare earths, gold, germanium, antimony, molybdenum, and indium, as well as illegal mining and excavation that damage farmland, forest land, and grassland.
Images of rare earth mines
2. Severely cracking down on illegal mining of mineral resources under the guise of ecological restoration projects, geological disaster management, slope treatment, and similar projects without approval.
3. Severely cracking down on unauthorized unsealing and entry into closed or abandoned mines (shafts) to steal or illegally extract mineral resources, as well as theft or illegal excavation in abandoned mine tunnels under the pretext of construction or other projects.
4. Severely cracking down on illegal mining of mineral resources within river management areas, such as unauthorized sand extraction, soil removal, and gold panning; mining beyond the scope, depth, duration, or permitted quantity in violation of river sand mining permits.
5. Severely cracking down on “sand lords” and “mine lords.” In conjunction with the ongoing campaign against organized crime and corruption, and the rectification of misconduct around the public, authorities will investigate upstream and downstream associated crimes, focusing on rectifying illegal excavation, theft, and resource monopolization involving organized criminal activity.
6. Severely cracking down on other illegal mining and theft of mineral resources prohibited by law.
