TIỀN GIANG — Authorities in Tiền Giang Province, located in the Mekong Delta, have seized a vessel engaged in illegal sand exploitation.

The operation took place on February 18th at approximately 6:30 am in the waters off Phú Tân Commune, Tân Phú Đông District. The vessel was discovered by a joint team from Coast Guard Region No. 3 Command, based in Vũng Tàu City, and the Tiền Giang Province Border Guard. The seizure is part of an ongoing campaign by the Coast Guard Region No. 3 Command to combat criminal activities, including illegal smuggling, drug trafficking, human trafficking, trade fraud, and the sale of counterfeit goods, particularly during the lead-up to, during, and after the Lunar New Year (Tết) holiday.

The seized vessel, registered as BTr-7570 in Bến Tre Province, was found to be carrying 350 cubic meters of sand. 1  The captain, Nguyễn Văn Hiền (51 years old) from Bến Tre Province, and two crew members were on board. Captain Hiền was unable to produce ship registration papers or a license for sand exploitation.

The vessel was subsequently brought ashore, and the case has been turned over to the Phú Tân Border Guard Station in Tiền Giang for further investigation.

This incident highlights the ongoing problem of illegal sand dredging in the Mekong Delta. Such activities have become increasingly prevalent along rivers and coastal regions throughout Vietnam in recent years. The uncontrolled exploitation of sand poses a significant threat to the environment, compromising the structural integrity and safety of waterway transport, causing land erosion, and disrupting natural water flow.

Coast Guard Region No. 3 Command's area of responsibility spans the sea from Cù Lao Xanh Island in Bình Định Province to the northern bank of the Định An estuary in Trà Vinh Province, including the waters surrounding the Trường Sa (Spratly) Islands and DK1 rigs. The Command has a proven track record of safeguarding national sovereignty and enforcing maritime law.