An Giang Provincial Police held the award ceremony on Thursday. — VNA/VNS Photo

AN GIANG — Six people from the southern province of An Giang have been awarded Certificates of Merit for rescuing 40 Vietnamese nationals escaping from forced labour at a casino in Cambodia last week.

The award ceremony took place on Thursday, following a decision by Colonel Định Văn Nơi, director of An Giang Provincial Police.

The group of six was honoured for their “outstanding achievements in the ‘All people protect the national security movement'.”

The six are Nguyễn Văn Tý, 40, Trần Văn Trường, 20, Lê Bình Hổ, 48, Nguyễn Thành Công, 26, Ngô Văn Sẹn, 38, and Mai Văn Hùng, 36. They all reside in Long Bình Town, An Phú District, An Giang Province.

On August 18, 40 Vietnamese nationals swam across the Bình Di River at the Cambodia-Việt Nam border, trying to escape from Golden Phoenix Entertainment Casino in Kandai District in Cambodia due to being exploited and abused at work.

On discovering the incident, the group of six quickly piloted a boat to the river to rescue and bring 40 people to shore safely and take them to the authorities.

On Thursday, Chairman of the People’s Committee of An Phú District, An Giang Province, also awarded certificates of merit to the six men. — VNS