The Tamil Nadu government has undertaken a comprehensive reassessment of beach sand mineral stocks in the districts of Thoothukudi, Tirunelveli, and Kanniyakumari. This initiative was prompted by concerns over illegal mining activities and discrepancies in previously reported mineral inventories. The reassessment revealed a shortfall of approximately 1.6 million tonnes of beach sand minerals compared to earlier records, indicating significant unauthorized extraction. Additionally, an extra 662,000 tonnes of minerals were discovered in sealed godowns, suggesting illicit stockpiling. Notably, among these additional stocks, 6,448 tonnes were identified as monazite, a radioactive mineral regulated under the Atomic Energy Act. The presence of monazite in private facilities raises national security concerns, as its handling is restricted to government entities. These findings underscore the extent of illegal mining operations and highlight the challenges faced by authorities in regulating and monitoring mineral extraction in the region.