According to the report of the Vietnam Coast Guard at the Conference "Summary of Anti-Smuggling and Trade Fraud in the first 6 months of 2020" held on July 7, in May and June this year, the illegal gasoline smuggling, the illegal transfer of petroleum between ships of foreign nationality and Vietnamese fishing vessels still took place in the offshore waters, despite the fact that the Covid-19 epidemic was still complicated in the world.

In order to bypass the forces on sea missions, these ships often go to the adjacent waters between Vietnam and other countries to easily run into foreign waters to avoid being arrest. However, with many solutions and experiences in the fight against smuggling and trade frauds at sea, the Vietnam Coast Guard successfully arrested many large cases.

Officers of the Coast Guard Region 1 checks smuggled cigarettes.

The Coast Guard strengthens reconnaissance work to grasp the situation 

In the first half of 2020, the Covid-19 epidemic made a comprehensive impact on the country's economy as well as activities at sea. The situation of security, safety, smuggling and commercial fraud prevention was also affected. 

The organizations and individuals engaged in production, trading and shipping were significantly hit. Therefore, all related activities were delayed and the situation of law violation, crime at sea reduced. However, after Vietnam basically controlled the Covid-19 epidemic, the economic situation and sea transport have improved. The Vietnam Coast Guard has strengthened the reconnaissance work to grasp the situation, and detected a number of major smuggling and trade fraud cases, especially petroleum smuggling cases in the southwestern sea, with foreign elements. 

In May and June, the High Command of Vietnam Coast Guard instructed the Southern units to use professional methods to detect and seized two large cases with foreign elements: two Mongolian ships transporting up to 1,700 m3 and 1,000 m3 of DO oil. There were cases of smuggling sugar to Vietnam with a weight of up to over 200 tons. 

The Coast Guard force inspects and illegal oil tanker in the southwest sea.

Well performing the task of fighting crime and violation prevention

In that context, in order to achieve results in the fight against smuggling and trade fraud, the High Command of Vietnam Coast Guard has implemented many solutions. Specifically, after the campaign to fight against criminals before, during and after the Lunar New Year 2020, the Coast Guard agencies has simultaneously carried out professional measures, including technical reconnaissance work to capture situations at sea early and remotely to detect signs of crime.

Then, the Coast Guard organized patrols, inspections and controls, especially in the key water areas where many illegal cases and crimes of gasoline smuggling usually take place. Thanks to the fierce fighting spirit, the High Command of Vietnam Coast Guard has directed its fleets to perform very well the task of combating crime, violation and maintaining security, order and safety at sea.

However, according to Major General Tran Van Nam, besides the objective difficulties encountered such as weather conditions, climate... especially during the day, when visibility at sea is easy (for both the Coast Guard forces and criminals), criminals easily discover the Coast Guard ships from afar to run away.

At night, when being chased by the Coast Guard ships, the violating vehicles intentionally run to foreign waters, do not obey the orders to stop the ship by the authorities. Therefore, it takes the Coast Guard force a long time to chase violating ships.

Illustrative photo

In some cases, the Coast Guard force had to chase violating ships for up to 4 hours and had to open fire for warning to stop the violating vessels.

The Vietnam Coast Guard has been equipped with high speed and modern ships so it is completely possible to suppress smugglers and criminals even though they deliberately flee and intentionally do not obey the authorities’ commands.

“The investigation, verification, and handling of smuggling and commercial fraud cases (especially cases involving foreign elements) is often complicated, involving many countries and the international commercial sector, the value of material evidence is also huge and these factors cause certain difficulties for the Coast Guard forces to perform its mission, so the investigation process is prolonged and takes a long time,” Major General Tran Van Nam told VOV in a recent interview.

Compiled by Huyen Sam