
Hanoi (VNA) – Commander of the Border Guard Command Lieutenant General Le Duc Thai and Head of Home Office InternationalOperation of the UK’s Home Office Victoria Pullen signed an agreement on cooperation in the prevention and combating of human trafficking between the two sides in Hanoi on January 18.
Under the agreement, the two sides will increase information exchange; cooperate in detecting, preventing, investigating, andhandling drug crimes; coordinate to verify, rescue, and support victims inspecialised projects and cases; exchange experiences in human traffickingprevention and combat; provide support in training and capacity building in humantrafficking prevention and control, particularly improve English proficiencyfor border guard officers.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Lieutenant General Le DucThai emphasised that the event marked a new, practical, and effectivedevelopment step in international cooperation between the law enforcement forces ofVietnam and the UK in implementing the bilateral agreement between the governments of the two countries on human trafficking prevention and control.
Since 2021, the two agencies have implemented manycooperative activities in the field.
In 2023, Vietnam's border guards conducted communication activitiesthat reached 700,000 people, detected, prevented, and handled 1,604 cases with66,621 people involved in illegally entering and exiting the country, many ofwhom are at high risk of becoming victims of human trafficking rings.
The force also arrested and handled 103 cases with 92 people; and rescued, received, supported, and transferred 235 victims andsuspected victims.
The border guards coordinated with the International Organisationfor Migration (IOM), the UK Embassy in Vietnam, and the Blue Dragon Children'sFoundation to organise five in-depth training classes on human traffickingprevention and control for 180 officers and three interdisciplinary seminars toimprove capacity./.