A Chinese court has convicted 27 individuals of smuggling more than 166 tonnes of antimony, a critical mineral used in weapons, semiconductors and flame retardants. The case marks a significant enforcement of Beijing's tighter export controls on dual-use items. Lead defendant Wang Wubin received 12 years in prison and a 1 million yuan fine.
The Shenzhen Intermediate People’s Court in Guangdong province convicted 27 individuals of smuggling more than 166 tonnes of antimony without export licences, in a major enforcement of Beijing's controls on dual-use items. The court issued a statement on Tuesday detailing how the group conspired with an overseas smuggling gang to ship the metal ingots out of China between February and March this year.
Lead defendant Wang Wubin was sentenced to 12 years in prison and fined 1 million yuan (US$142,000), with others facing penalties from four months' detention to five years in prison. “The circumstances were serious and warrant severe punishment in accordance with the law,” the court stated. Wang was found to have organized the group to purchase, conceal and disguise the metal to evade customs.
Critical minerals like antimony have become a key battleground in the technological and security rivalry between major powers. Beijing, which dominates the global supply and production of many such materials, has increasingly tightened its grip on them. This verdict underscores the enforcement of China's export controls.