China Coast Guard busts 470 illegal cases related to sea sand

BEIJING -- The China Coast Guard has busted 470 illegal cases related to sea sand and seized 4,093 suspects involved since 2019.

A total of 528 vessels and 4.35 million tonnes of sea sand have been confiscated since 2019, said a statement from the coast guard.

The coast guard has formed a special team to strike hard on illegal activities related to sea sand such as illegal mining, transportation and smuggling, according to the statement.

The coast guard has pledged to step up law enforcement and supervision in major sea areas and strengthen cooperation with relevant departments to protect marine ecology and maintain maritime security and stability.

Sea sand is an important marine resource. The loss of sea sand will harm China's coastal zones and marine geological structure.

The market price of sea sand remains high due to the rising demand for construction materials in recent years.

Often not fully purified, sea sand with excessive chloride ion reduces the durability of buildings and poses risks to residents.