On July 17, the An Giang Provincial Police Security Investigation Agency announced that it had filed criminal charges and placed Ngo Binh Dang, 33, in pre-trial detention on allegations of organizing the illegal departure of other people from Vietnam.

According to investigators, the case stems from an incident in which 14 Vietnamese fishermen were repatriated by Indonesian authorities after completing prison sentences for illegally fishing in Indonesian waters.

An Indonesian court fined each individual 40 million Indonesian rupiah (US$2,450) and imposed prison terms ranging from four to six months.

An investigation by Vietnam's National Boundary Commission found that the fishing vessel KG-93682-TS was operating near the maritime boundary between Malaysia and Indonesia when it was intercepted.

Ngo Binh Dang and 16 crew members had departed from Tac Cau Fishing Port in Binh An Commune, An Giang Province.

After initially fishing in waters off Ca Mau, the captain allegedly decided to cross into Indonesian waters because catches were poor.

He then took the vessel, along with 13 fishermen, into Indonesian waters, where Indonesian authorities detected and detained the crew.

Dang was fined 40 million rupiah, while the accompanying fishermen served prison sentences before being returned to Vietnam.

During questioning, Ngo Binh Dang admitted that he had organized the illegal departure of the fishermen in order to fish in Indonesian waters, according to investigators.

Police said the case file is being completed for further legal proceedings.

According to An Giang Provincial Police, taking Vietnamese fishing vessels into foreign waters for unauthorized fishing is among the violations Vietnam is intensifying efforts to eliminate as it implements the European Commission's recommendations on combating illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.

In recent years, An Giang and other coastal localities have strengthened inspections of fishing vessels entering and leaving ports, tightened monitoring of vessel tracking systems and increased enforcement against individuals who organize or facilitate illegal cross-border fishing.

Authorities say these measures are part of Vietnam's broader effort to secure the removal of the European Commission's IUU "yellow card."

Ky Long