Vietnam Coast Guard has driven away 4,500 encroaching ships since 1998: leaders

Vietnam Coast Guard has driven away 4,500 encroaching ships since 1998: leaders

The Vietnam Coast Guard (VCG) has used its resources to expel more than 4,500 foreign vessels that illegally entered Vietnamese waters over the past 16 years, leaders of the VCG’s Zone 3 have said.

The leaders provided the information during a reception for Truong Minh Tuan, a Deputy Minister of Information and Communications, who visited the High Command of the VCG’s Zone 3 in the southern city of Vung Tau on Wednesday.

The visit was made to mark 16 years of the VCG’s establishment, the leaders said.

Since its debut in 1998, the VCG has used thousands of vessels to drive away more than 4,500 foreign ships that intruded into Vietnamese waters, protecting the country’s territorial waters, ensuring maritime safety and security, and protecting local fishermen.

The VCG has fined violators and transferred hundreds of billions of dong to the state budget, according to the leaders. (VND1 billion ~ US$47,200)

Anti-drug units of the VCG have also coordinated with other competent agencies to uncover 773 drug trafficking cases, detaining 1,458 offenders, and seizing 341 bricks of heroin (a brick weighs about 350 grams), 76,105 synthetic drug tablets, 27 guns, and 607 bullets.

The VCG has saved 278 people and 17 vessels at sea so far.

Notably, it arrested 11 pirates who attacked a vessel in November 2012.

The VCG has thus far entered into bilateral and multilateral cooperation agreements with the marine law enforcement forces of many countries, including the U.S., Japan, China, the Republic of Korea, Singapore, Thailand, the Philippines, Malaysia, Cambodia, Malaysia, and Indonesia.

Tuan, the deputy minister, praised the achievements gained by the VCG over the past 16 years and wished that the force will become stronger soon, contributing the protection of the fatherland’s sovereignty over its seas and islands.

He also presented to Colonel Nguyen Ngoc Lan, Vice Commander and Chief of Staff of the VCG’s Zone 3, a painting and an amount of VND100 million (US$4,720) as gifts.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!

Vietnam Coast Guard has driven away 4,500 encroaching ships since 1998: leaders Related image(s)