Prosecution of 13 fishing boats that removed tracking devices to illegally exploit

(Chinhphu.vn) - Authorities determined that this is a typical, serious incident, occurring for the first time in Quang Ninh province.

The subjects illegally removed 13 fishing vessel monitoring devices, causing obstruction and disruption to the monitoring and management system of the authorities.

On October 23, the Investigation Police Agency, Quang Ninh Provincial Police announced that it had just initiated a criminal case and prosecuted Pham Van Minh (born in 1977, residing in Tien Trang commune, Thanh Hoa province) and Nguyen Duc Trung (born in 1980, residing in Co To special zone, Quang Ninh province) for the act of "Obstruction or disruption of the operation of computer networks, telecommunications networks, and electronic means" according to the provisions of Article 287 of the Penal Code.

Previously, in coordination with the Department of Sea, Islands and Fisheries, Fisheries Surveillance (Department of Agriculture and Environment of Quang Ninh province), the Economic Police Department, and Quang Ninh Provincial Police discovered that 13 fishing boats deliberately removed their vehicle tracking devices (VMS) to illegally exploit aquatic resources in prohibited areas.

During the investigation, the authorities determined that from June 24 to 28, in the waters of Co To special economic zone, Pham Van Minh contacted and negotiated with 13 other fishing boat owners to remove VMS equipment to avoid the control of the authorities, serving illegal fishing activities.

Minh directly received 7 VMS devices from fishing boats and, together with Nguyen Duc Trung, reinstalled them on 2 boats QN-65076-TS and QN-41320-TS managed by Trung; received 6 more VMS devices to hide.

Pham Van Minh and Nguyen Duc Trung illegally removed 13 fishing vessel tracking devices, causing obstruction and disruption to the monitoring and management system of authorities from June 24 to July 14 (over 168 hours).

The actions of these subjects not only seriously violated regulations on management and supervision of fishing vessels, but also affected the work of protecting sovereignty , security at sea and efforts to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing of the province and Vietnam in the context of the whole country's efforts to "declare war" on violations of illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing (IUU), determined to remove the "yellow card" warning of the European Commission (EC) in 2025.

Authorities determined that this was a typical, serious incident, occurring for the first time in Quang Ninh province.

The Investigation Police Agency, Quang Ninh Provincial Police are continuing to expand the investigation, clarify the roles and responsibilities of related subjects to strictly handle them according to the provisions of law.

Linh Anh

Source: https://baochinhphu.vn/khoi-to-vu-an-13-tau-ca-thao-thiet-bi-giam-sat-hanh-trinh-de-khai-thac-trai-phep-102251023142940357.htm