Prevent illegal sand and gravel mining

- Recently, due to the rapid increase in demand for sand and gravel for construction projects, the illegal exploitation of sand and gravel in the area has become more complicated. In this situation, the Provincial Police, led by the Economic Police Department, have implemented synchronous measures to combat, prevent and strictly handle violations.

Scene of an illegal sand mining case that occurred in Quy Hoa commune in April 2025, discovered and handled by the Economic Police Department, Provincial Police.

Illegal sand and gravel mining not only causes loss of national mineral resources, but also leaves unpredictable consequences, negatively impacts agricultural production, ecological environment, and depletes natural resources.

Lieutenant Colonel Nong Trung Nghia, Head of the Economic Police Department, Provincial Police, said: In the face of the above situation, the Economic Police Department has advised the leaders of the Provincial Police to submit to the Provincial People's Committee to issue many documents directing all levels and sectors in the province to strengthen management, prevention and combat against violations of the law related to sand and gravel mining and trading activities in the province. With the motto "no forbidden areas, no exceptions", the unit has proactively coordinated with the professional departments of the Provincial Police, police of communes and wards where rivers pass through to focus on reviewing, developing plans to prevent, combat, and stop illegal exploration, exploitation, transportation and consumption of sand and gravel and strictly handle violations according to the provisions of law.

Since the beginning of 2025, the functional forces of the whole province have discovered and handled 26 cases and 29 subjects illegally exploiting resources and minerals, including sand and gravel (an increase of 1 case compared to the same period in 2024).

As a result, from the beginning of 2025 to now, the functional forces of the whole province have discovered and handled 26 cases, 29 subjects illegally exploiting resources and minerals, including sand and gravel (an increase of 1 case compared to the same period in 2024). Of which, the Economic Police Department discovered and handled 10 cases, 11 subjects (an increase of 10 cases, 11 subjects compared to the same period in 2024), prosecuted 4 cases, 5 defendants (an increase of 4 cases, 5 defendants compared to the same period in 2024).

Typically, on April 17, 2025, in the Bac Giang River area in Quy Hoa commune, the working group of the Economic Police Department, Provincial Police discovered and arrested 4 cases of illegal sand and gravel mining, 2 cases of illegal gold mining. Through inspection, the working group temporarily seized the following exhibits: 4 sand suction boats, 6 sand-carrying boats, 2 excavators, 1 truck, 2 gold panning tools, over 40m³ of sand, 2 jars containing yellow metal (the subject admitted it was gold dust). The cases were investigated, clarified and handled according to the provisions of law, in which 1 case and 2 defendants were prosecuted for violating regulations on research, exploration and exploitation of resources.

Along with that, the Economic Police Department, Provincial Police has also proactively advised and closely coordinated with all levels, sectors, and police of communes and wards to promote the prevention of illegal exploitation of natural resources and minerals. In particular, focusing on propagating to raise people's understanding and awareness of voluntarily complying with the law; actively denouncing crimes and related violations.

Major Nguyen The Manh, Chief of Khang Chien Commune Police, said: In recent times, the Commune Police have regularly patrolled inter-village roads, riverside areas, streams and construction material gathering places to promptly detect and prevent illegal sand and gravel mining. Along with the inspection work, the Commune Police also presided over and coordinated with units, including the Economic Police Department and the Provincial Police, to promote propaganda and mobilize people to strictly comply with regulations on mineral management and exploitation in general; organize the signing of commitments for owners of construction material businesses and vehicle owners to strictly comply with the provisions of law in business activities and sand and gravel mining. Thanks to that, from 2024 to now, there has been no illegal mineral mining in the area.

In the coming time, the Economic Police Department and the Provincial Police will continue to coordinate to promote the deployment of forces and means to patrol, control, detect and strictly handle acts of illegal exploitation, transportation and trading of sand and gravel, strictly handle violations, contributing to the protection of resources, the protection of the ecological environment, serving sustainable socio-economic development in the locality.

Source: https://baolangson.vn/dau-tranh-voi-khai-thac-cat-soi-trai-phep-5062182.html