Lang Son steps up patrols against poultry smuggling
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| Lang Son Border Guards confiscate illegally transported poultry to cull. — VNA/VNS Photo Dinh Hue |
HA NOI (VNS)— The border guard forces have increased patrols to catch smugglers bringing uncertified poultry from China to Viet Nam.
Patrols have been stepped up since July in the northern border province of Lang Son in a bid to curb outbreaks of bird flu, said chief of the Tan Thanh border post, Senior Lieutenant Colonel Pham Quoc Huy.
Six units are responsible for the patrols and work on curbing outbreaks, including the border guard, customs, police, market management forces and commune and town authorities.
Huy said that poultry smugglers prefer to transport small amounts of goods, as it's easier to avoid detection.
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Bird flu hits Thai Binh
THAI BINH — Bird flu outbreaks have hit Quang Trung and Vu Hoa communes in Kien Xuong District, prompting the cull of nearly 1,800 fowls, northern Thai Binh Province's People's Committee reported yesterday.
Most of the infected birds were ducks. The provincial Animal Health Department has been working with local authorities to take strict measures to prevent the disease from spreading further.
So far this year bird flu has hit eight provinces, mostly those in the northern region.
The epidemic is expected to become more serious as the weather cools down.
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The districts of Van Lang, Cao Loc and Loc Binh are hot spots for smuggling, he said, with Loc Binh seeing greatest levels of smuggling thanks to its remote terrain.
"Therefore border guard forces in the district have to work round the clock," he said.
"Poultry and poultry products are often smuggled into the province by vans and motorbikes at night. It's hard for us to clamp down on this illegal trade."
Provincial authorities have also directed the agricultural sector, People's Committees of communes, towns, and especially People's Committees of border communes, to raise people's awareness of bird flu while implementing prevention measures against the disease.
According to provincial reports, forces in the province since July have caught over 30 smugglers and seized around 12,000 chickens and ducks, and over 500kg of pig organs. — VNS