Hunan cracks down on major illegal rare-earth mining ring across three provinces
2026-08-03 14:17:50 [Print]
A court in Rucheng County, Chenzhou City, Hunan Province, has publicly heard the case of a major illegal rare earth mining operation, with nine defendants pleading guilty and expressing remorse in court. The case, code named "7.19", was cracked by the Rucheng County Public Security Bureau after months of investigation. It involved a cross provincial smuggling network operating across Hunan, Jiangxi and Guangdong. A total of 12 suspects were arrested, and the operation helped recover ecological damage costs valued at more than RMB2.2 million (USD325,761).
The case came to light in July 2025, when local residents reported illegal mining activity on a mountain in Daping Town. The county's forest police, together with the natural resources bureau, conducted an on site inspection and confirmed an illegal mining site using the in situ leaching method to extract rare earth elements.
After months of intensive investigation, all 12 suspects were apprehended. Authorities seized 5.27 tonnes of raw rare earth ore, 1.8 tonnes of concentrate, and a large quantity of mining equipment. The gang was found to have mined more than 50 tonnes of rare earth ore in total, of which 45 tonnes had already been sold. The total value of the illicit operations was estimated at around RMB1.6 million (USD236,917).
The case came to light in July 2025, when local residents reported illegal mining activity on a mountain in Daping Town. The county's forest police, together with the natural resources bureau, conducted an on site inspection and confirmed an illegal mining site using the in situ leaching method to extract rare earth elements.
After months of intensive investigation, all 12 suspects were apprehended. Authorities seized 5.27 tonnes of raw rare earth ore, 1.8 tonnes of concentrate, and a large quantity of mining equipment. The gang was found to have mined more than 50 tonnes of rare earth ore in total, of which 45 tonnes had already been sold. The total value of the illicit operations was estimated at around RMB1.6 million (USD236,917).
