Securing southwest border to combat livestock and poultry smuggling

Strict border management along both river and auxiliary border gates

Tan Hong district in Dong Thap province shares a border of nearly 35 kilometers with Cambodia. Accordingly, the district's border is controlled by Dinh Ba international border gate in Tan Ho Co commune, and two auxiliary border gates, namely Binh Phu and Thong Binh.

As the uppermost district of Dong Thap province, Tan Hong has a history of being affected by seasonal floods; however, the road system in the district has been significantly raised in comparison with the surrounding paddy fields.

The spacious National Highway 30 leads to the Dinh Ba international border gate, which stands as an imposing presense against the surrounding paddy fields. During this season, trucks and containers primarily travel through the Dinh Ba border gate to transport rice and fruits from Cambodia to Vietnam.

Despite constant surveillance efforts along the border and suspected hotspots, no signs of livestock and poultry smuggling across the border, with the most prominent activity being the illegal importation of pigs, were reported.

On the day of our visit, we encountered a task force from the Southern Office of the Department of Livestock Production (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development) collaborating with the Dong Thap province's Sub-Department of Livestock Production - Animal Health and Fisheries to inspect and assess the state of illegal animal (pig) transportation across the border.

Mr. Vo Be Hien, General Director of the Sub-Department of Livestock Production - Animal Health and Fisheries, stated that the border between Tan Hong District and Cambodia is separated by the So Ha River. Additionally, the border is equipped with multiple checkpoints, rendering attempts to smuggle large quantities of pigs across the border extremely difficult.

Moreover, the road through the border gate is the only route available. Large trucks are required to transport a significant number of pigs across the border, which is constantly under the surveillance of local authorities. As a result, attempting to transport illegal pigs in large numbers through the border gates is undoubtedly impossible.

There are currently 8 centralized livestock collection facilities, with certificates of veterinary hygiene, operating along the border between Cambodia and Dong Thap province

There are 7 livestock collection facilities in Tan Hong district primarily engaged in purchasing livestock (cattle, buffalo, pigs, etc.) from various regions for redistribution to slaughterhouses, or for fattening and resale to livestock breeders in need.

Notably, only 3 of the 7 livestock collection facilities in Tan Hong district are regularly operational, including: Dang Thi Thap, Phan Van Duc (cattle, buffalo), and Tran Minh Hai (pig).

The remaining facilities operate irregularly, with limited livestock collection and sales. Some of these facilities serve as collection points, importing livestock from other provinces and redistributing them to slaughterhouses and livestock breeders within and outside the province.

According to the Tan Hong district's Department of Animal Health under the Tan Hong district's Agricultural Service Center, a significant number of pigs, mainly sourced from Dong Nai and Tien Giang provinces, have been imported into Tan Hong district since early 2024 to supply daily consumption.

Additionally, the Tan Hong district's Department of Animal Health has conducted quarantine inspections on between five and six thousand pigs imported into the provinces of Long An, Tien Giang, Vinh Long, An Giang, and Kien Giang.

The origin of the pigs purchased by collection facilities includes Dong Nai, Tien Giang, Long An, and pigs bred by local livestock breeders. No facilities have been found to illegally import pigs from Cambodia or violate regulations.

At the Thong Binh border gate in Tan Hong district, the local Sub-Department of Customs reportedly deployed personnel to patrol areas trails and open routes in compliance with directives from higher authorities; however, no pig smuggling activities have been found within the Thong Binh border area.

Mr. Nguyen Truong Ton, Chief of the Animal Quarantine Station at Dinh Ba International Border Gate in Tan Hong District, Dong Thap Province, revealed that following the disease outbreak in livestock and poultry in Cambodia at the beginning of 2023, local authorities in the Dinh Ba border area have implemented strict management measures, and prohibited the illegal trading of livestock and poultry across the border, with the aim of preventing the spread of diseases into Dong Thap province.

The Dinh Ba Vietnam - Cambodia border, which spans 35 kilometers adjacent along the So Ha River, poses significant challenges for the smuggling of livestock and poultry through small pathways.

According to authorities at the Dinh Ba International Border Gate, no reports regarding the illegal importation of livestock and poultry into Dong Thap province have been made since the beginning of 2023.

According to Mr. Ton, the Department of Animal Health under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has authorized the Dong Thap province's Sub-Department of Livestock Production - Animal Health and Fisheries, in collaboration with the Regional Animal Health Office No. 7, to conduct animal quarantine inspections at the Dinh Ba border gate since June 2023. However, no traders from Cambodia have brought pigs, buffalo, cattle, or poultry to the border gate for quarantine inspection to import into Dong Thap province.

The authorities at the Dinh Ba international border gate affirmed to Vietnam Agriculture Newspaper that no reports regarding the illegal importation of livestock and poultry into Dong Thap province have been made since the beginning of 2023. However, a small number of households in remote areas with trails and open routes occasionally let their cattle, buffalo cross the border during the day, and return them to their pens in the evening.

No illegal pig importing activities were reported

Mr. Phan Duc's buffalo and cattle collection point in Chien Thang hamlet, Tan Ho Co commune, Tan Hong district, Dong Thap province, which is located 2 kilometers away from the Dinh Ba International Border Gate, has experienced a significant decrease in daily activities. The majority of buffalo and cattle collected at this location are purchased from households in the area and neighboring provinces such as Long An, An Giang, Tien Giang, Tra Vinh, Ben Tre, etc. Subsequently, the animals are fattened for two to four months before being sold to traders in Ho Chi Minh city and the Mekong Delta provinces.

Mr. Phan Tan, owner of a cattle and buffalo collection point, noted that before the trading of livestock was prohibited at the Dinh Ba border gate, his collection point imported 10 to 30 cattle and buffalo from Cambodia on a daily basis. Subsequently, these animals are fattened and sold to traders after a few months.

However, the government has strengthened border control activities, and prohibited the illegal importation of livestock across the border within the last two years. As a result, Mr. Phan Tan's family has been limited to purchasing 30 to 40 domestic cattle and buffalo per month, all of which must undergo thorough veterinary inspections before being traded. Accordingly, these cattle and buffalo are sourced from the Mekong Delta and the Southeastern region in compliance with local veterinary regulations.

According to Mr. Phan Tan, local authorities currently enforce strict control over the entry of livestock into Dong Thap province. Consequently, the smuggling of cattle, buffalo, or pigs across the border is extremely challenging. Moreover, large trucks are required to transport these animals due to their size and weight.

On the other hand, their loud cries during transportation would easily alert residents in the area, prompting them to immediately notify the local authorities.

As a result, even smugglers attempting to bring in small quantities of pigs, cattle, or buffalo through unofficial routes to sell in the Dong Thap market face significant obstacles.

Notably, local residents in the border areas of Tan Hong district are prohibited from importing cattle manure from Cambodia to fertilize the crops.