Coast Guard: Proactive anti-smuggling and illegal immigration

Coast Guard force seized and inspected violated ship. Photo: Đ.T.Anh

According to the Techincal and Legal Department - the High Command of the Coast Guard, smuggling, commercial fraud, and illegal transport of goods at sea was still occurring and tends to be complex. In particular, infringing goods were mainly coal, minerals, sugar and petroleum. Besides that, illegally exploiting sand continued occuring mainly in Hai Phong, Thai Binh and Vung Tau.

Besides that, illegal entry and exit across the border has many potential risks especially illegal entry by sea. Facing this situation, the Party Committee and Director of the High Command of Coast Graud implemented measures to prevent and combat the Covid-19 pandemic and at the same time intensified the patrol, inspection and control activities of the seas, inspection of goods and vehicles transporting people to illegally enter country via sea; communication, prevention and control of the Covid-19 pandemic for fishermen at sea.

As a result, in the first eight months of the year, the Coast Guard discovered and handled many violations with great economic value. On January 12, at Nghe An sea area, the High Command of Coast Guard Region 2 inspected and seized the DYNAMIC OCEAN 15 ship which was illegally crossing alongside five ships including Minh Thuy 69; Tan Xuan 99; Thinh An 18; Hai Long 03; Dong Do 12. Currently, the High Command has decided to sanction administrative violations and selling for liquidation 1,861,117 litres of A92 gasoline, paying to the State budget more than VND 26 billion.

More recently, on June 13, in the sea area of 12 nautical miles from South East Cu Lao Cham sea, the High Command of Coast Guard Region 2 seized Tuan Dung 25 ship transporting 2,197.22 tonnes of Ilmenite ore without papers to prove its legality. It was estimated the value of goods was about VND 10 billion.

Previously, on May 19, at area 96 nautical miles far from southeastern Con Dao, the High Command of Coast Guard Region 3 siezed the SIAM VARICH ship (Mongolian flagged) while it was transporting about 1,678. 122 litres of DO oil without proof of legal origin. It was estimated the value of goods was about VND 20 billion.

To effectively combat the fight against smuggling and commercial fraud in the sea; preventing illegal entry and exit via sea, the Techincal and Legal Department said that in the future, the whole team would firmly grasp the area, promptly detect all violations, have measures to fight, prevent and advise, propose strictly handling in accordance with the provisions of law; promptly overcome and solve all difficulties and problems arising in the course of performing tasks. Promoting communication and mobilise people to participate in the prevention and combat of smuggling, illegal transport of goods at sea, not participate in implementation or abide by illegal entry and exit into Vietnam. In particular, concentrating on communication, advocacy and education for the people to understand the harms, magnitude of the impacts and serious consequences caused by trafficking, transporting smuggled goods and commercial fraud, illegal entry and exit into Vietnam.

The entire force would also organise fighting plans in the key sea area that were identified as "hot" areas such as the sea area bordering countries: China, Cambodia, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, river mouths, seaports, and yards that subjects can take advantage of to load goods and bring people to enter and exit illegally into Vietnam. Focusing on fighting and destroying smuggling and trade fraud, bringing people illegally into Vietnam, crimes involving foreign elements and major projects and cases. Working closely with the competent forces: Border Guard, Police, Customs and Market Management, actively exchange information to promptly detect, arrest, investigate, strictly handle smugglers, commercial fraud at sea, illegally bringing people in and out of Vietnam through the sea.