On the afternoon of July 13, in Hanoi, the Border Guard Command (BGB) organized the Commendation of the Border Guard Professional Dog Team participating in supporting and overcoming the consequences of the earthquake in Venezuela. Lieutenant General Vu Trung Kien, Member of the Party Central Committee, Member of the Central Military Commission, Commander of the BGB, chaired the commendation.
According to a report at the commendation, immediately after the double earthquake in Venezuela on June 24, Venezuelan interim President Delcy Rodriguez declared a state of national emergency and requested countries to support disaster recovery.
Implementing the direction of the Head of the Ministry of National Defense, the Border Guard Command promptly directed Border Guard Intermediate School 24 to mobilize forces to participate with the working delegation of the Ministry of National Defense and the Ministry of Public Security in searching for and rescuing, and overcoming the consequences of the earthquake in Venezuela.
Immediately after arriving in La Guaira State, Venezuela (June 29, Vietnam time), the Professional Dog Team of the Border Guard Command, together with other forces, organized field surveys and reconnaissance, proposed plans, and organized the deployment and use of search and rescue forces in all directions and directions, ensuring closedness and comprehensiveness.
In 11 days, from June 29 to July 9, 2026, the Border Guard Professional Dog Team directly discovered and marked 89 locations, coordinated with concrete drilling forces, searched, brought 42/57 bodies out of the rubble, handed them over to local authorities and families of victims; handed over 49 other locations to local forces in the host country for searching; donated 1,200 USD and supported and helped the Venezuelan people move assets to safe places.
The above results show that the Professional Dog Team of the Border Guard has achieved many achievements, playing an important role, being a special weapon, a spearhead in the search and rescue of earthquake disasters.
With particularly outstanding achievements, Venezuelan interim President Delcy Rodriguez awarded the "Meritorious Service" Order to the Professional Dog Team of the Border Guard; Commander of the Venezuelan Presidential Protection Force awarded the Second-class "Venezuelan Hero" Order to the Professional Dog Team of the Border Guard, for their outstanding achievements in searching for victims, contributing to overcoming the earthquake disaster.
Speaking to direct at the commendation ceremony, Lieutenant General Vu Trung Kien emphasized that the Border Guard Professional Dog Team is truly a "warrior" on the international search and rescue front; has promoted the spirit of ingenuity, courage, regardless of hardship and danger, ready to face all difficulties to rescue people in disaster areas.
Emphasizing the tasks in the coming time, Lieutenant General Vu Trung Kien requested each officer and soldier to continue to promote the glorious tradition, constantly improve political bravery, qualifications, capacity, proactively prepare in all aspects, be ready to receive and excellently complete all assigned tasks.
Recognizing contributions in the international rescue mission
On July 11, at the Ceremony to commend the Working Delegation of the Vietnam People's Army and the Vietnam People's Police for supporting Venezuela in overcoming the consequences of the earthquake, Prime Minister Le Minh Hung awarded the Third-class Fatherland Protection Order to the collective of Border Guard Intermediate School 24 and the Third-class Fatherland Protection Order to 3 individuals of the school.
