Beijing Starts Year-Long Campaign Targeting Mining and Sand Crime Networks

Beijing announced a one-year “special campaign” to root out organized crime across a spectrum of illegal activities, from online scams to human trafficking, with particular emphasis on mining and sand mafias. The state media defines six types of “bullies,” ranging from village and township gangs to city-wide racketeers, and adds “mining bullies” and “sand bullies” as priority targets. Illegal sand mining, a $200-$350 billion global industry, has caused severe environmental damage in the Yangtze River basin and at Lake Poyang, prompting the government to promote manufactured sand, now said to supply 79 % of the market.

Officials also aim to dismantle the corrupt networks that protect these enterprises, referencing figures such as Lin Jingquan, who allegedly bribed officials in Foshan, Guangdong. Historical examples, like the 2012 downfall of Bo Xilai, illustrate how party leaders have sometimes co-opted criminal groups for personal gain. Critics warn that past campaigns have merely shifted power rather than eliminated it, but the current effort signals a renewed focus on eradicating the symbiotic ties between local officials and organized crime.