The Ministry of Public Security has sent a telegram to police forces nationwide requesting them to launch a campaign to crack down on crimes, especially the illegal entry of foreigners into the country.

Police forces have so far detected dozens of cases and prosecuted dozens of suspects for assisting people to illegally enter Vietnam 

The telegram states that since May 1 police forces throughout the country have put thousands of people, including legal and illegal entrants to Vietnam, into quarantine in an effort to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).

The police have also detected dozens of cases and have moved to prosecute dozens of suspects for their role in assisting people to illegally enter the country from neighbours, in addition to individuals who played a role in trafficking people out of the country.

The Ministry of Public Security therefore requested all forces to continue drastically and effectively cracking down on these crimes, helping  to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 and control the virus.

It also requested that the Department of Immigration Management move to guide local police forces and closely cooperate with border forces to tighten border inspections and patrols, in order to detect and prevent cases of people illegally entering and exiting the nation.

The ministry asked the Office of the Police Investigation Authority to investigate rings of illegal immigrants and to promptly prosecute criminals in accordance with the law.

The Department of Cyber Security and Hi-tech Crime Prevention and Control was tasked with paying greater attention to cyberspace and handling cases relating to fake news on COVID-19 posted on social media platforms.

Over the past few days, local authorities have detained many Chinese nationals illegally crossing the border into Vietnam. Many have been detected in Da Nang city, a coronavirus hospot in central Vietnam.