Mongolia’s Minister of Justice and Internal Affairs, S. Amarsaikhan, met with senior police officials and issued a directive to immediately halt illegal gold mining nationwide. The minister warned of severe consequences for officials involved in or aware of the illicit operations and pledged to remove them from their positions. As a result of this directive, the head of the Ecology Police Department, Colonel B. Oyuntbold, was relieved of his duties. Oyuntbold had been appointed to the position in April 2026. The dismissal signals a firm stance against corruption and a commitment to addressing the issue of illegal mining within the country. The move aims to enforce greater accountability among law enforcement and government officials.