Legal proceedings initiated for smuggling fishermen to work Illegally on Malaysian fishing boats

Dương Hoàng Giang was arrested for investigation of the act of “Organising and brokering for others to illegally exit or enter the country”. VNA/VNS Photo

CÀ MAU — The Cà Mau Provincial Police has initiated legal proceedings and detained Quách Thanh Tuấn and Dương Hoàng Giang on charges of organising and brokering illegal exit and entry for people to illegally fish for them.

Both detainees are residents of Sông Đốc town, Trần Văn Thời District of southern Cà Mau Province,

In addition, Cà Mau police, in collaboration with the force of neighbouring Bạc Liêu and Kiên Giang provinces, detained Nguyễn Văn Công, a boat captain, and Nguyễn Văn Phu, who acted as brokers, for smuggling fishermen onto Malaysian fishing boats.

According to the initial investigation, at the beginning of 2023, Tuấn directly organised, connected, and conspired with Công, Giang, and Phu to repair the fishing vessel CM-92365 TS, aiming to smuggle nine fishermen to Malaysia by sea.

The suspects organised and coordinated the illegal exit of six other fishermen by air to Malaysia, where they would work on Tuấn’s fishing boat KNF6649.

Before departing for Malaysian waters, Tuấn and the fishermen agreed on profit-sharing that after deducting all expenses for fuel, ice, food, fishing gear, provisions and others, the harvested seafood would be divided with 60 per cent going to the boat owner and the remaining 40 per cent allocated to the crew. The biggest share would be given to the captain, followed by the chief engineer, technician and, then, according to the work contributions, with those working harder earning more.

After six months, the fishermen were allowed to return home once, with an advance payment of VNĐ30-40 million (US$1,265-1,686) per fisherman.

In August 2023, after preparing the vessel and personnel, the suspects carried out the smuggling of the boat and fishermen to Malaysia to fish.

On July 8, when the CM-92365 TS fishing vessel returned to Vietnamese waters to sell seafood to a Vietnamese support vessel, it was inspected, detected for violations and detained by the coast guard.

The actions of Tuấn and Giang are sufficient to constitute the crime of organising and brokering illegal exits abroad.

The police are continuing the investigation and expanding the case to handle it according to the law strictly. — VNS