The Security Investigation Agency of the An Giang provincial police said on July 15 it had opened a criminal case against the two, Nguyen Van Dang, 51, and Nguyen Tien Sang, 31.
Both have been held in detention facing charges for organizing for others to stay in Vietnam illegally, an offense that carries one to five years in prison, and up to 15 years where aggravating factors apply.
Nguyen Tien Sang (in white) listens as police read out the decision opening a criminal case against him. Photo by Duong Dong
The case broke on July 3, when a border guard patrol from the Duong Dong Port Border Gate command watched a taxi drive onto a ferry at Bai Vong port on Phu Quoc's east coast, bound for Ha Tien.
The vessel was a cargo ferry with no license to carry passengers.
