China’s Ministry of State Security says it is cracking down on alleged smuggling of rare earths materials that it says threaten national security.

China arrests suspects involved in smuggling strategic minerals, and authorities warn of ‘increasingly covert’ tactics to evade detection.

July 7 (Reuters) - China's export restrictions on rare earths brought parts of the global auto supply chain to a halt and U.S. President Donald Trump to the negotiating table. But at home, they're a big headache for companies already struggling with a slow economy.