Not just a matter of sand bandits: A persistent problem

The situation of "sand bandits" causing consequences for people and loss of mineral resources has been formed for a long time, and has been inspected and handled by functional forces.

The timeline for strengthening inspection and handling of violations of the law in sand and gravel exploitation on riverbeds in the province can be determined to be in 2015. Because this is the time when the Provincial People's Committee issued Decision No. 5445/QD-UBND-NC to establish an interdisciplinary team to inspect and handle violations in the exploitation, transportation, and gathering of sand and gravel on the Lam River.

In January 2018, from overnight trips on the Lam River, Nghe An Newspaper reporters recorded images of illegal sand and gravel mining and trading in the riverbed in Thanh Linh, Thanh Tien, and Thanh Hung communes (Thanh Chuong district). Photo: Nhat Lan.

ForBy May 2018, about 3 years later, violations of the law in the exploitation and trading of river sand and gravel were still very complicated. According to Report No. 2898/STNMT.KS of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment, in 2017 and early 2018 alone, in the province, sectors and levels inspected, detected and handled violations with a total fine of2,891,700,000 VND. Of which, the amount of fines for illegal violations is 2,151,700,000 VND; the amount of tax fines for businesses related to sand and gravel trading that do not comply with the accounting and document regime is 740,000,000 VND.

An overnight trip on Lam River by Nghe An Newspaper reporters to capture the case of illegal sand mining by locals. Photo: Nhat Lan

Also during this time,The provincial police force has detected and arrested 620 cases and 645 subjects for violating the law in the field of sand and gravel mining and trading, temporarily seizing 3,568 m³sand and gravel; 330 boats; 191 engines, pumps, sand suction hoses and other evidence used for illegal sand pumping.Initiate investigation of 1 case, 1 defendant for the crime of "Violating regulations on resource exploitation". Prepare records to handle administrative violations and transfer to competent authorities to handle administrative violations according to authority 609 cases, 631 subjects, collect more than 1.4 billion VND to the state budget; force to reclaim 3,568 m2 of land.³sand, gravel; confiscate vehicles and evidence of violations and carry out auction procedures to pay to the state budget according to regulations. Currently preparing files to handle 11 cases and 14 subjects.

Late at night until dawn is the time when "sand bandits" are rampant. Photo taken in January 2018, on the Lam River, passing through the border area between Thanh Linh and Thanh Tien communes (Thanh Chuong). Photo: Nhat Lan.

In Report No. 2898, the Department of Natural Resources and Environment stated:In 2017 and the first 6 months of 2018, with the efforts of all sectors and levels, the exploitation, transportation, gathering and trading of sand and gravel in Nghe An province has gradually become more orderly. However, through monitoring, the situation of law violations in this field is still complicated.

As the Head of the inspection team for compliance with the law on mineral activities in Thanh Chuong, Nam Dan, Hung Nguyen districts and Vinh city, Mr. Nguyen Cong Luc - Deputy Head of the Minerals Division of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment affirmed thatCrimes and violations in the field of sand and gravel exploitation are increasingly sophisticated and reckless.

Mr. Nguyen Cong Luc said: “Illegal sand miners have many tricks to deal with inspection and detection by authorities, such as: illegal mining from midnight to early morning, when discovered in many cases, the subjects do not allow authorities to approach the ships and boats, use many engines to accelerate and escape. Meanwhile, at the docks, illegally exploited sand and gravel are purchased. Then the owners of the docks rationalize by buying input invoices from businesses licensed to exploit sand and gravel…”.

"Sand bandits" are one of the causes of riverbank subsidence, affecting agricultural land, so many residential areas are extremely upset. Photo: Zen Da.

Commentsof the Department of Natural Resources and Environment in Report No. 2898, andMr. Nguyen Cong Luc's discussions are evident realities. Because in recent years, through closely following working groups or independent investigations, Nghe An Newspaper reporters have many times directly approached the "sand bandits" who are illegally exploiting sand and gravel from riverbeds; thereby grasping the methods of operation and the extremely complex developments of this problem.

For example, in January 2018, when the provincial working groups were stepping up inspections of compliance with the law on mineral activities in Hung Nguyen, Nam Dan, and Thanh Chuong districts, Nghe An Newspaper received information from residents of Hamlet 12, Thanh Tien Commune: "There are signs that tonight, "sand bandits" will organize early mining."

Together with local people who were lying in wait on fishing boats, traveling all night along the Lam River through the communes of Thanh Linh, Thanh Tien, Thanh Hung, etc., Nghe An Newspaper reporters not only identified the "sand bandits" on the Lam River, but also clearly understood the reason why "sand bandits" are still "living well and healthy".

Regarding the operating time of the "sand bandits", it is from about 9-10pm until 4-5am the next morning. As for the mining method, the "sand bandits" useIron-hulled ships, equipped with engine systems linked to pumps and suction hoses to suck sand and gravel directly from the riverbed into the boat's hold.This sand suction machine uses a large water hose, several tens of meters long, to plunge into the riverbed and riverbank, then uses a high-powered engine to suck sand into the compartment.

An unlicensed sand and gravel trading point operating at an inland waterway port was suspended but still operated in Thanh Hung commune in January 2018. Photo: Nhat Lan.

With a large tonnage, the carrying capacity is usually from 70 - 200m3 of sand, but it only takes about 1 hour for the sand boat to be filled. Then, it slowly moves to the gathering areas near the riverbank and traffic routes to transport the sand to the wharf. On the gathering area, each area usually has 3 - 4 sand cranes operating continuously at night, the headlights of the cranes, the yard and the means of transport entering and exiting illuminate the entire area... All of these illegal exploitation and business activities, although carried out at night, are not too difficult to detect, inspect and handle. However, they have not been detected by the local authorities and functional forces!

Or just like at the end of July, to get new information about sand and gravel mining and trading activities on riverbeds, Nghe An Newspaper reporters continued to take trips along Ta Lam dike through Hung Nguyen and Nam Dan districts and along National Highway 15 up to Nam Loc and Khanh Son communes (Nam Dan), and to communes with Lam River flowing through Thanh Chuong district such as Thanh Giang, Thanh Linh, Thanh Tien, Thanh Hung...

Up to now, the management of sand and gravel storage yards in Thanh Chuong district has been rectified. Outside the yards, there are steel fences to prevent vehicles from entering and leaving, and signs are erected: Illegal sand mining is prohibited. Photo: Nhat Lan.

What can be seen in Thanh Chuong district is that up to now, the direction of the Provincial People's Committee has been strictly followed, tightly managed, and no sand and gravel trading ports have been allowed.Not yet granted a license by the competent authority to operate an inland waterway port, to resume operation. At the sand and gravel gathering sites near Ru Nguoc, along Lam River in Thanh Hung and Thanh Tien communes... which used to be hot spots, the crane towers have now been lowered; outside the gathering sites, there are barbed wire fences to prevent vehicles from entering and leaving, and in the yard or in front of the gathering site gates, there are signs with the words prohibiting illegal sand and gravel mining.

But in Nam Dan district, and especially in Hung Nguyen district, at times when there are few people, at dawn or dusk, the activities of sand and gravel gathering places are still basically normal. At the gathering places, the system of crane towers, instead of being lowered, still stands up teasingly; the place is still filled with piles of sand as high as hills, some of which are still wet, showing that they have just been transported from sand ships to the wharf not long ago. And the means of transport, still go in and out to carry sand...

However, in some other districts, such as Hung Nguyen, sand and gravel gathering yards are still operating secretly. Photo: Nhat Lan.

Grasping information from the Environmental Police Department of the Provincial Police, in early July 2018, the Department prosecuted a number of "sand bandits" who illegally exploited sand and gravel on the Lam River, passing through Hung Nguyen District. Officers and soldiers of the Environmental Police Department determined that the fight and prevention against the subjects exploiting, transporting, and gathering sand and gravel on the Lam River is extremely difficult, arduous and will take a long time.

Therefore, on July 22, 2018, the Department advised the Provincial Police in Document No. 596/CV-CTA on proposing solutions to remove difficulties in the management of activities, exploitation, transportation, and gathering of sand and gravel on the Lam River. Document 596 clearly stated: "In reality, there are many difficulties that make it almost impossible to completely combat and prevent the problem of illegal sand and gravel mining...".

Strictly handle officials and party members who commit "protection" acts!

March 24, 2017, atTNotice No. 161/TB-VPCP, Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binh directedPeople's Committeeprovinces and centrally run cities:

“RReview and evaluate the implementation of river sand exploration and exploitation, propose adjustments to the planning of sand and gravel yards and gathering places, and the planning of local exploitation of common construction materials, ensuring suitability and strict management of resources.

Strengthen management and inspection of sand and gravel mining for construction in riverbed areas bordering localities; raise awareness and clearly define the responsibilities of local Party committees and authorities in preventing illegal sand and gravel mining for construction.NIn case of any prolonged violations that cause public outrage, the responsibility of the head of the Party Committee and local government in charge of the area must be strictly handled. In case of detecting cadres and Party members who have committed acts of "protection", assisting, covering up, or condoning, depending on the nature and severity of the violation, they must be strictly handled according to Party regulations and the law.…”.

(to be continued)