Police in southwestern provinces intensify efforts to control illegal migration

An Phu is a border district of An Giang. It has a 42-km border with Cambodia. There are various paths and canals across the borderline. A large number of people and boats on both sides of the border regularly travel across the border on the paths and canals, which makes it difficult for the competent forces to control.

Criminals have taken advantage of the local geographical features to commit crime, particularly cross-border human trafficking in recent years.

Against this backdrop, the leadership of An Giang provincial police deployed over 240 officers in mid-December, 2020 to support police in border localities to control illegal border crossings. For instance, 110 officers deployed to An Phu in coordination with other forces, including the army, customs, border guard as well as the local youth and women’s organizations have established and now maintain 76 checkpoints to detect and handle any individuals or organizations involved in illegal exit and entry.

Additionally, the deployed forces also promote information dissemination to raise local people’s awareness of the disease prevention and combat regulations.

Dong Thap, another southwestern province, shares 50 km of border with Cambodia, and runs 7 border gates, not to mention many tracks, openings and canals across the borderline.

Doan Tan Buu, Vice Chairman of the Dong Thap Provincial People’s Committee, said the province has deployed forces to curb illegal border-crossings. 14 security checkpoints and 17 mobile inter-sectorial teams have been established and are responsible for managing security and order along the borderline. Additionally, the police force in border communes has been reinforced to patrol along the borderline and disseminate information about COVID-19 prevention and control to local people.