Seizure of nearly 1,000 m3 of sand of unclear origin on the Red River

Hanoi’s Traffic Police Department’s waterways unit has repeatedly detected and handled cases involving the exploitation, loading, and transport of sand of unclear origin along the Red River within Hanoi’s jurisdiction, with a total confiscated volume reaching nearly 987 m3.

Authorities said the violations mainly involved sand extraction, loading/unloading, and transport at sites without permits, as well as the failure to provide invoices or documents proving the legal origin of the sand.

Inspections and confiscations

On the afternoon of April 15, the No. 2 Waterway Police Team (Traffic Police Department, Hanoi), coordinated with relevant units to inspect a vessel numbered PT-31XX moored at the right bank of the Red River in Phú Xuyên commune. The team found about 150 m3 of black sand on the vessel and an additional 50 m3 at the berth, both without valid documents.

Less than a week later, on the morning of April 21, in Liên Nam Ward, the team inspected vessel NB-89XX transporting nearly 200 m3 of black sand. The owner and operator could not present documents proving the sand’s origin.

By the afternoon of April 23, authorities checked another vessel, TH-14XX, moored at Bat Trang commune. They found about 170 m3 of black sand on the vessel and 30 m3 at the berth, all lacking invoices or lawful documentation.

Penalties and recorded violations

Following verification, authorities fined six individuals for 11 violations, totaling nearly 180 million dong. At the same time, all 987 m3 of black sand involved were confiscated.

Recorded violations included anchoring and loading at unlicensed berths; buying and storing minerals with unclear origin; transporting goods contrary to regulations; and failure to ensure crew complement and lack of professional certificates as required.