On 2/3, Toai, 36, a resident of Tuy Hoa ward, was indicted by the Dak Lak Provincial Police and restricted from leaving his residence on charges of organizing illegal exit for others.

Previously, on 18/4/2025, Toai, acting as captain, along with four crew members, departed from Dong Tac fishing port in Phu Yen ward for offshore fishing. By 24/4/2025, while fishing at coordinates 170 N-1160 E in Vietnamese waters, Toai intentionally removed his vessel monitoring system device. He transferred it to his younger brother's fishing vessel to evade tracking by the Vietnam Fisheries Surveillance. Toai then steered his vessel into Philippine waters to fish illegally.

Toai being read the indictment by the Security Investigation Agency. Photo: Dak Lak Police

On 9/5/2025, Toai was apprehended by Philippine authorities and escorted to Salomague port, Cabugao, Ilocos Sur, Philippines.

On 20/5/2025, the Philippine Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, Region 1 Adjudication Committee, concluded that Toai's fishing vessel had violated Article 91 of the Republic Act on illegal fishing in Philippine waters. He was fined PHP 500,000 (equivalent to VND 230 million), and the fishing vessel and all assets on board were confiscated.

Toai and his four crew members were held under supervision by Philippine authorities at Salomague port, Cabugao, Ilocos Sur. The group was later transferred to an immigration detention center in the capital, Manila, to complete deportation procedures. On 20/2, Toai's group was put on a plane and deported back to Vietnam.

The strict handling of Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing activities by the Dak Lak Provincial Police aims to warn, deter, educate, and prevent such acts among fishermen. This action contributes to reducing IUU violations and supports Vietnam's national efforts to remove the European Commission's (EC) "yellow card" on Vietnamese seafood.

Bui Toan