Unjust Gains Exceeding VND 250 Billion

In a press conference organized by the Ministry of Public Security on March 26, Lieutenant General Nguyen Van Thanh, Deputy Head of the Criminal Investigation Department for Corruption, Economics, and Smuggling (Ministry of Public Security), announced that the agency has prosecuted 19 individuals in the case of illegal sand mining in An Giang. During the investigation into the illegal sand mining activities, it was revealed that the perpetrators took advantage of the mining permits to extract 3.2 million cubic meters of sand beyond the allowed limit. Instead of selling the sand legally, they sold it in the black market, earning illicit profits amounting to VND 253 billion.

Exploitation of Authority by State Officials

Lieutenant General Nguyen Van Thanh revealed, “In this case, several individuals had colluded with state officials who provided protection and support. We have even processed cases involving the Chairman of the Provincial People’s Committee and the Director of the Department.” He also mentioned that after the crackdown on major cases, the scale and volume of illegal sand mining activities have decreased. Currently, only small-scale cases remain.

In relation to this field, Lieutenant General Tran Minh Le, Director of the Environmental Crime Prevention Department, stated that illegal exploitation, transportation, and trading of minerals have become increasingly complex in many areas such as Cao Bang, Hanoi, Bac Giang, Hung Yen, Thai Binh, Quang Ninh, Thanh Hoa, Nghe An, Gia Lai, Lam Dong, Ho Chi Minh City, Dong Nai, Ba Ria-Vung Tau, Tien Giang, Long An, Soc Trang, Kien Giang, Dong Thap, An Giang, and Tien Giang. Perpetrators take advantage of the scarcity and shortage of construction materials for national key projects to illegally mine minerals (sand, gravel, soil, rocks) for construction and land filling purposes.

Combating Illegal Mineral Exploitation

The Environmental Crime Prevention Department regularly monitors the situation and reports to the Ministry of Public Security’s leadership for guidance and directs local units to combat violations of the law in mineral exploitation for land filling in national key projects. They also coordinate with other functional forces to implement measures to prevent and combat crimes and violations of the law in mineral exploitation.

Additionally, they directly supervise, instruct, and guide local police units in organizing a peak operation to suppress criminal activities and ensure security and order during the Lunar New Year holiday in 2024. In the field of mineral exploitation, they focus on identifying and targeting individuals suspected of leading and protecting illegal mineral exploitation activities (sand, gravel), as well as monitoring the complex developments, self-made and modified vehicles that violate riverbanks and transport sand and gravel, and locations involved in the illegal collection, transfer, and trading of construction materials.

According to Lieutenant General Tran Minh Le, in the first quarter of 2024, the Environmental Crime Prevention Department discovered 2,083 violations (the same as the previous year). The department directly initiated 8 cases related to violations of resource exploitation regulations. Local police have also initiated legal proceedings against 118 cases and 159 offenders involved in mineral exploitation activities.

Recent Operation Results

Most recently, on March 10, the Environmental Crime Prevention Department, in collaboration with other units, caught 16 watercraft and 23 individuals involved in illegal sand mining and the transportation of construction materials, specifically sand, from the Tiền River passing through Dong Hoa Hiep, Hoa Khanh, Hoa Hung communes in Cai Be District, Tien Giang Province, and Dong Phu commune in Long Ho District, Vinh Long Province.

In a previous development related to the illegal sand mining ring in An Giang, at the end of December 2023, the Investigation Agency under the Ministry of Public Security decided to prosecute Mr. Nguyen Thanh Binh, Chairman of the Provincial People’s Committee of An Giang, for abusing his position and power while performing official duties.

According to the Investigation Agency, Nguyen Thanh Binh used his position and power to intervene and direct the approval of exploration, mining, adjustment of reserves, capacity, and unauthorized mining at the sand mines in My Hiep and Binh Phuoc Xuan communes, Cho Moi District, An Giang Province on behalf of Trung Hau Investment Joint Stock Company. This misconduct resulted in significant illegal gains, causing damage to state assets.

In connection with this case, Tran Anh Thu, the deputy of Mr. Binh and Vice Chairman of An Giang Provincial People’s Committee, was also prosecuted by the Investigation Agency for taking bribes. Similarly, Nguyen Viet Tri, Director of the Provincial Department of Natural Resources and Environment, was also prosecuted for bribery in mid-August.