Concerted efforts to prevent the illegal transportation of poultry across the border

Repeated seizures of unlicensed poultry and breeder ducks

Binh Lieu, a mountainous district in Quang Ninh province, boasts over 43 kilometers of border roads adjoining China. The province hosts the Hoanh Mo border gate, the Dong Van customs checkpoint, and several open export routes, rendering it an ideal location for the illegal trading and transportation of unverified livestock, poultry, and food products across the border, which will subsequently enter the domestic market.

During a routine patrol on March 4, officers at the Hoanh Mo border gate and other units under the Quang Ninh Border Guard Command intercepted a truck transporting nearly 43,000 breeder ducks in Dong Cam hamlet, Hoanh Mo commune, Binh Lieu district.

At the time of inspection, the driver failed to produce documentation to verify the origin and transportation of the cargo. Similarly, officials in the Binh Lieu district have detected and handled severa cases involving the illegal trading and transportation of poultry since the beginning of the year.

Prior to this incident, law enforcement officers intercepted three male suspects loading plastic trays from a foam raft onto two pickup trucks on February 23, at Milestone 1351 (2)-600m in Thanh Phun hamlet, Hai Son commune, Mong Cai city.

At the time of inspection, one of the trucks with license plate 14C-376.38, driven by Hoang Quyet Tien (born in 1994) from Zone 2, Tran Phu ward, Mong Cai city, contained 30 plastic trays, each holding 130 breeder ducks.

The second truck with license plate 14C-173.14, driven by Pham Van Tuan (born in 1983) from Zone 3, Hai Hoa ward, Mong Cai city, contained 34 plastic trays, each holding 130 breeder ducks.

Additionally, the motorized foam raft with the markings GB680, operated by Phun Van Nam (born in 1999) from Thanh Phun hamlet, Hai Son commune, Mong Cai city, contained 36 plastic trays, each holding 130 breeder ducks. The suspects were unable to produce documentation or invoices to verify the origin of the 13,000 breeder ducks.

The suspects confessed to being hired by a stranger to transport the breeder ducks from China to Market 4 in Mong Cai city. Subsequently, officers at the scene drafted administrative violation reports and disposed of the 13,000 breeder ducks in accordance with regulations.

According to Lieutenant Colonel To Van Thanh, Deputy Chief of the Hoanh Mo Border Gate (Binh Lieu district), the perpetrators of recent violations are primarily local residents with limited legal knowledge, who take advantage of holidays, downtime, and nighttime to carry out their activities. Consequently, law enforcement units will continue to enhance patrols and strictly enforce regulations if further violations are detected.

Responsibility will be placed on management in the event of major violations

In compliance with the directives from the Quang Ninh Provincial People's Committee, local governments have reinforced coordination efforts among various stakeholders to enhance the effectiveness of the fight against illegal trading and transportation activities, with a focus on preventing and controlling dangerous infectious diseases, including avian influenza.

The Steering Committee 389 of Mong Cai City, in cooperation with various local law enforcement agencies, arrested and processed 4 cases involving 5 individuals in the first quarter of 2024. Notably, the local authorities seized 22,720 breeder ducks and 13,050 chicken eggs, with a total value of 196 million Vietnamese dong, and administrative fines totalling nearly 127 million Vietnamese dong.

According to Mr. Pham Tien Hung, Team Leader of Market Management Team 4 and Deputy Head of Steering Committee 389 of Mong Cai City, territorial control efforts over the city is challenging due to its extensive border, which spans more than 70 kilometers and includes both land and sea routes, as well as numerous trails and openings in the areas of Hai Son and Bac Son. Accordingly, Members of the Steering Committee 389 have been given clear instructions by the city's government, and they will be held accountable in the event of major violations.

In addition to increasing inspections and control measures, local authorities have carried out regular and continuous dissemination of information to residents in border areas regarding the dangers of avian influenza, and the hazards of trading and transporting poultry of unknown origin.

Mr. Tang Giau Pau, a resident of Na Choong hamlet, Hoanh Mo commune, Binh Lieu district, shared: "The local Border Guard is very active in disseminating information and reminding local residents. My family has pledged to not participate in transporting or consuming poultry of unknown origin, and immediately informing local authorities if we discover any signs of illegal activities."

Ms. Nguyen Thi Thuy, a trader at Mong Cai III Market, Mong Cai City, affirmed: "We sell vaccinated and quarantined poultry with verified origins to protect consumer health and prevent the spread of diseases to the community. Market Management officers and the Market Management Board regularly promote awareness among local traders and remind us to comply with trade regulations.

According to Colonel To Van Dong, Deputy Commander of the Quang Ninh Border Guard Command, local illegal poultry transporting activities are developing rapidly and unpredictably. In strict compliance with directives from the central and provincial governments, Quang Ninh Border Guard Command province has coordinated with local authorities and law enforcement agencies to strengthen control over the illegal transportation of poultry and related products across the border. 

The Quang Ninh Border Guard Command has also directed border posts to regularly disseminate information to residents within border areas regarding the dangers of avian influenza, and the hazards of trading and transporting poultry of unknown origin.

According to the Steering Committee 389 of Mong Cai City, between August 2023 and March 15, 2024, various local law enforcement agencies arrested and processed 58 violations involving 50 individuals in the illegal trading and transportation of animals and animal products across the border, with a total seized goods value exceeding 2.2 billion Vietnamese dong.

Most notably, 2 criminal cases involving 6 individuals resulted in the seizure of 1,592 kilograms of sturgeon, valued at 238.8 million Vietnamese dong, and 1,720 kilograms of duck eggs, valued at 223.6 million Vietnamese dong. Administrative penalties were imposed in 56 cases, totaling 1.799 billion Vietnamese dong, with the seized items mainly consisting of poultry, poultry eggs, frozen animal organs, sausages, and sturgeon.

Mr. Do Van Tuan, Vice Chairman of the Mong Cai City People's Committee, reported that local law enforcement agencies have implemented various measures to control and prevent the illegal trading and transportation of animals and animal products across the border. Furthermore, stakeholders are determined to prevent the formation of illegal trading and transportation networks for animals and animal products within their respective jurisdiction and areas of responsibility. Consequently, illegal trading activities, commercial fraud, counterfeit goods, and the illegal trading and transportation of animals and animal products across the border are have been strictly regulated.