9 iron-hulled boats discovered illegally mining sand and gravel on Lam River

Previously, through professional measures, the Police Department investigating crimes of corruption, economy, smuggling and environment discovered many homemade iron-hulled boats illegally exploiting minerals (sand, gravel) in the Lam River area in Long Son commune, Anh Son district.

On the morning of April 16, 5 working groups from the Police Department investigating crimes related to corruption, economics, smuggling and the environment simultaneously conducted an inspection and discovered 5 iron-hulled boats exploiting sand and gravel in the above-mentioned area. All boats were not registered or inspected according to regulations.

Conducting an inspection at the inland waterway port of Loc Khang Song Lam Company Limited in village 10, Long Son commune, Anh Son district, the working group discovered 5 homemade iron-hulled boats anchored; of which 4 boats were operating illegally for mineral exploitation on the morning of April 16.

Through measurement, the police force determined that the total volume of sand and gravel on the 9 boats was about 120 m3; the volume of sand and gravel on the inland waterway wharf of Loc Khang Song Lam Company Limited was 704 m3.

The boat operators who directly exploited sand and gravel on the river could not present mineral exploitation licenses issued by competent State agencies. The volume of exploited sand was sold to Loc Khang Song Lam Company Limited.

The working groups temporarily seized 824 cubic meters of sand and gravel and 9 homemade iron-hulled boats, all without serial numbers, registration or inspection.

Currently, the case is being investigated for handling according to the law.