Gold, soil, and sand illegally exploited
In early April 2025, a group of reporters from Lao Dong Newspaper were present in Vinh O commune, Vinh Linh district, Quang Tri province to verify information about illegal gold mining activities in protective forests. After many days of traveling through the stream, the group reached Khe De area, in Cay Tam village, sub-area 583, where the gold bandits brazenly set up camps and started gold-plating machines all day and night.
Here, the reporter recorded more than 20 camps built with green tarpaulins, lying precariously between the canyons and surrounding forests. These sheds are both a place to live and a place to operate machinery to serve the digging of gold in gold mines. Not only that, in many locations around the area, there are signs of forest tree blasting to remove new gold mines.
Although illegal gold mining is taking place widely in protective forests, the forest owners, the Ben Hai River Basin Protection Forest Management Board and the People's Committee of Vinh O commune, are not aware. When the press published it, new forces were mobilized to search, destroy the camps and chase the gold bandits out of the forest.
By mid -April 2025, the Lao Dong Newspaper reporter discovered the case of illegal land exploitation in Linh Truong commune (Gio Linh district, Quang Tri province). The location of the land exploitation is in Melaleuca hills in Ben Tung village and Truong Hai. Every day, the scooping machine operates publicly, the soil is filled with large trucks, then following Ho Chi Minh Road to spread to the surrounding areas. On April 17, from the information of the reporter provided, the police force and the local government were present at the scene to make a record of the incident.
Similarly, on the Thach Han River (through Dong Ha City and Trieu Phong District), from mid-April 2025, people reported that many sand dredgers have been operating from night to morning. The sand is then transported to the gathering areas near the riverbank. Only after the press intervened did the Quang Tri Provincial Police deploy the investigation and handling.
Must strengthen management and handle the responsibility of leaders
In response to the above serious violations, the Department of Agriculture and Environment of Quang Tri province has issued a document requesting the Provincial People's Committee to direct relevant departments and branches to urgently intervene.
The document clearly stated that illegal mineral exploitation activities in the area are complicated, so it is recommended to issue comprehensive instructions, strengthen inspection, strictly handle violations, and at the same time consider the responsibility of localities for unknown forest loss, land loss, and sand loss.
Mr. Ha Sy Dong - Acting Chairman of the People's Committee of Quang Tri province - said that in recent times, the State management of minerals in the province has been gradually consolidated, becoming more disciplined, basically complying with current legal regulations. Organizations and individuals operating in this field have generally complied with regulations on mineral exploration and exploitation, contributing to effectively serving the socio-economic development of the locality.
However, recently, the situation of illegal mineral exploitation has continued to be complicated, especially the situation of illegal gold, soil, sand, and gravel mining, causing loss of resources, environmental pollution, affecting security, order, and people's lives.
According to Mr. Ha Sy Dong, the illegal mineral exploitation situation that the locality did not know about occurred, only when the press came to handle it, did it not fulfill its role and responsibility. Therefore, the province will continue to assign the Department of Agriculture and Environment, Quang Tri Provincial Police and localities to coordinate in inspecting, supervising, promptly detecting and strictly handling organizations and individuals who illegally exploit, transport and consume minerals. In particular, the heads of localities where illegal mineral exploitation occurred will be held responsible.
