Fully aware of their responsibilities, cadres and soldiers of Ba Ria - Vung Tau Provincial Border Guard have overcome numerous hardships to uphold their pivotal role in the frontlines of crime prevention and control. Their relentless efforts have significantly contributed to maintaining security and social order, ensuring a peaceful life for local residents in maritime border areas.

Patrolling a seaport

Situated in the southern key economic region, Ba Ria - Vung Tau province serves as a crucial maritime gateway for both regional and international trade. The Provincial Border Guard is tasked with managing security and social order across 25 communes, wards, and townships in the districts of Xuyen Moc, Long Dat, and Con Dao, Phu My town, and Vung Tau city. Their area of responsibility covers a 92.3 km coastline with 8 major river estuaries, and a sea area of 11,570 km². They are also responsible for ensuring security at 65 seaports, 10 offshore oil export terminals, and 83 anchorage points in pilot boarding area. Over the past years, thanks to joint efforts of local authorities, residents, and armed forces, Ba Ria - Vung Tau has successfully harnessed its economic potential and edges, ranking among the highest growth rate groups nationwide. As a result, social welfare has been prioritised; national defence and security have been maintained; the people’s life has steadily improved; political security and social order in the province in general and in coastal border areas in particular have remained largely stable. However, activities of various crimes and legal violations are on the rise, including drug trafficking, smuggling, trade fraud, illegal mining and transportation of minerals, illegal labour brokering and unlawful entry and exit. Violations of foreign waters for illegal fishing, IUU fishing practices, and theft in the vicinity of buoy zero remain pressing concerns. Additionally, the number of fugitives hiding on fishing vessels operating for extended periods at sea is increasing. Other criminal activities, such as illegal hunting and transportation of endangered species, online scams, gambling, and unlawful possession of weapons and explosives with increasingly sophisticated tactics persist, etc. These evolving threats place a significant burden on the Provincial Border Guard in their task of safeguarding political security and social order in the border area. To fulfil this great responsibility, the Provincial Border Guard’s Party Committee and Command have worked closely with various departments, local authorities, and competent forces to proactively advise local Party committees and authorities to mobilise resources at full scale and implement synchronised measures to combat crime effectively, ensure security, maintain public order, and enhance social safety while strengthening all-people border defence posture and all-people national defence posture within the region.

First of all, to lay the groundwork for effective border management, the Provincial Border Guard’s Party Committee and Command have directed their offices and units to cooperate with relevant agencies in disseminating information and mobilising the local population to strictly adhere to the Party’s lines, the State’s policies and laws, and local regulations in coastal border areas. Emphasis has been placed on executing directives and conclusions by the Politburo, as well as programs by the Government, the Ministry of National Defence, the Border Guard Force Command, the Provincial Party Committee, the Provincial People’s Committee, and steering committees (1389/BQP, 1389/BDBP, 138/BR-VT) regarding crime prevention and control. Efforts have been intensified to raise public awareness and encourage active participation in movements, such as “The entire people unite to build cultural life”, “The entire people participate in national security protection”, “All people participate in border security protection”, and “All people take part in crime prevention, detection, and reporting”. Citizens have been encouraged to commit to refraining from drug trafficking, transportation, storage, or usage, to proactively detect and report illegal activities, and to support the Border Guard in combating crime. In addition, the Provincial Border Guard’s Party Committee and Command have focused on enhancing legal propagation and mobilising public participation in crime prevention and combat. Grass-roots working teams have directly approached households and fishing vessels directly in key fishing grounds to disseminate information, provide guidance, and encourage residents to participate in crime prevention and reporting. Those teams have also encouraged households and vessel owners to sign commitments not to violating laws or supporting unlawful practices. Furthermore, the Provincial Border Guard’s political department has worked with press agencies to actively propagate the Party’s lines, the State’s policies and laws, and local regulations. The effectiveness of the Provincial Border Guard’s propagation and mass mobilisation has contributed to raising law-abiding awareness among cadres and residents in their stationed areas. As a result, the masses have become the “eyes and ears” of the Border Guard, actively assisting the Border Guard in combating various forms of crimes.

Crime combat exercise

Due to the complex and dangerous nature of combatting various types of crime, the Provincial Border Guard’s Party Committee and Command have comprehensively implemented measures to maintain a firm grasp of the local situation, especially in key areas with potential security risks. They have exercised strict control over developments on the ground and gained a clear understanding of methods and tactics employed by criminal elements. The Provincial Border Guard’s Party Committee Standing Board has designated a Provincial Border Guard Deputy Commander to be responsible for all advisory and operational activities relating to crime prevention, while other members of the Standing Board have been assigned to supervise specific areas based on their respective areas of responsibilities. Efforts have been intensified to step up political and ideological education and foster willpower, courage, and strong determination among cadres and soldiers to ensure they would remain resilient against external temptations and social negative impacts. Professionalism in crime prevention has been highly valued, with a focus on proactive and creative approaches to handling situations effectively and opportunely. The Provincial Border Guard Command and various border posts have closely integrated different aspects of border management and deployed synchronised and effective operational measures, particularly in intelligence gathering and situational awareness. Consideration has been given to identifying crucial areas and times to devise targeted operational plans. Operational units and border posts have been required to enhance manpower, equipment, and weaponry for their key affiliates directly engaged in crime prevention. Due attention has been paid to strengthening covert networks and grass-roots connections for remote monitoring to support law enforcement operations. Efforts have been also focused on heightening the quality of reconnaissance personnel and harnessing the role of technical surveillance and community informants to conduct thorough investigations of criminal networks and gangs. The Provincial Border Guard Command has required all offices and units to reinforce fundamental operational practices and combine public patrols and inspections with covert reconnaissance measures to investigate and verify suspicious activities. Offices and units have also been asked to concentrate on maintaining professional recording and administrative violation handling documentation in a scientific manner. In the implementation of all tasks, “the rule of law” has been strictly observed. Offenders have been dealt with fairly and accurately, thus avoiding wrongful accusations or legal disputes. Crime prevention efforts have been closely linked with internal political protection to prevent infiltration, manipulation, or collusion, particularly among personnel directly involved in crime prevention and law enforcement activities.

Based on its signed coordination regulations and plans, the Provincial Border Guard Command has worked with local authorities and various competent forces (including the Public Security Force, Customs, Port Authority, and Coast Guard) to create comprehensive strength in the fight against crime. Offices and units have been actively cooperating with localities to take synchronised measures for crime prevention and closely monitor any signs of illegal activities. Currently, criminal tactics have become increasingly sophisticated and harder to detect. At ports, offenders have exploited loopholes in supervision and inspection processes to conceal and transport illegal goods, posing challenges for detection. At sea, there has been a noticeable rise in the trading and transport of unregistered fuel of unknown origin and counterfeit goods. Human trafficking has also evolved, with perpetrators employing more malicious artifices, particular through brokers who lure workers onto fishing vessels and subsequently force them to work without pay. Drug-related crimes have become more aggressive and sophisticated, featuring new methods, such as floating drugs at sea, using advanced technology for covert transactions, frequently changing operational tactics to evade law enforcement forces’ detection. Against that backdrop, the Provincial Border Guard has directed its forces to maintain strict control over borders, ports, and coastlines. Specialised operations have been launched to dismantle complex drug trafficking networks while integrating control of drug crimes with broader crime prevention efforts. Since 2022, the Provincial Border Guard has successfully carried out 9 major operations against human trafficking and drug-related crimes.

Additionally, offices and units have proactively exchanged information about criminal activities, conducting surveys and background checks on potential offenders, adopting timely preventive measures in accordance with the law. The effectiveness of hotlines between relevant forces has been maximised, facilitating real-time information sharing, coordinated operations, and the handling of complex cases. Moreover, international cooperation in combatting transnational crimes has been strengthened, enabling the opportune detection and investigation of networks involved in illicit fishing activities in foreign waters. The role of intelligence personnel and community informants has been promoted, with a focus on gathering in-depth information on maritime activities, rural security, and various forms of crime, particularly concerning foreign investment activities and operations of vessels and fishermen at sea. To achieve high efficiency, the Provincial Border Guard has actively formulated, supplemented, and refined cooperation plans, maintaining regular information exchange, holding meetings for experience sharing, clearly delineating responsibilities for subordinate units. This approach has enabled accurate analysis and forecast, providing suitable recommendations to the Provincial Party Committee and the Provincial People’s Committee for appropriate responses. Simultaneously, operational plans and specialised investigations have actively developed and executed in close coordination with relevant forces, thereby firmly safeguarding national sovereignty and security in coastal border areas, creating a favourable environment for fostering the province’s rapid and sustainable development and turning Ba Ria - Vung Tau into a national maritime economic hub, a world-class tourism centre, and a centre for clean energy and high-value green industries.

Sr. Col. DANG CAO DAT

Commander of the Provincial Border Guard