An illegal sand mining boat seized by police. — Photo thanhnien.vn

ĐỒNG NAI — Eleven boats were found to be exploiting sand illegally on Đồng Nai River on Saturday and Sunday.

Traffic police of southern Đồng Nai Province discovered two boats transporting and illegally mining sand at about 1am on Sunday while patrolling along the river section in Long Tân Commune, Nhơn Trạch District.

Knowing they were being followed by the police, people on the boats jumped into the river to escape.

Another sand mining hot spot was discovered on Saturday on a section of the Đồng Nai River in Tam An Commune, Long Thành District.

While being chased by the police, the sand miners sank one boat and took another eight to small canals. They escaped by jumping into the river.

Police seized eight boats with about 130cu.m of sand.

Đồng Nai River sections in Nhơn Trạch and Long Thành districts and areas in close proximity to HCM City and Bình Dương Province have been attacked by illegal sand mining in recent years, one of the major causes of landslides. — VNS