Vice Director Liao, lacking knowledge about the sand mining industry, whispered, "Why can't the problem be resolved?"

"Director Liao, you aren't aware of how quickly those sand miners make money. Even if we succeed in confiscating their illegal gains, they still earn a fortune by mining sand in the river for a few days. If they mine ten times, profiting from even one undetected time makes their venture profitable."

Right after Old Huang finished speaking, Director Teng thoughtfully said, "From a judicial practice perspective, it's difficult to pursue their criminal responsibility. At least, I haven't heard of anyone being sentenced for sand mining."

Vice Director Liao realized and responded, "So the cost of their illegal actions is low, and at most, they spend money to mitigate disasters?"

Director Teng helplessly said, "Pretty much."

"If the levee collapses due to sand mining, and there happens to be a flood, the Water Resources Bureau will be in trouble."

Master Chen felt that these two officials from the City Bureau lacked resolve because they had been sitting in the office too long, and he reopened the regulations emphasizing, "Though the fine currently lacks specific rules and standards, both national and provincial river management regulations state that it's necessary to correct their illegal actions and take remedial measures.

What do remedial measures mean? If they create pits and unevenness in the riverbed, they have to restore it to its original condition!

You all know how costly it is to construct in rivers and waterways. They might make a hundred thousand from illegal sand mining, but taking remedial actions to restore the original condition will cost them five to six hundred thousand."

How can we resolve this issue once and for all? It's about making those sand mining bosses fear for their actions.

The more Vice Director Liao thought about it, the more he found Master Chen's words reasonable. He chuckled while tapping the table, "Let's use this method to control them. Crack down on one case, educate a multitude. As long as we're determined to take action against one or two cases, I can't believe there would still be people daring to test the law!"

Being able to confiscate illegal income and make those involved in illegal sand mining "take remedial measures"...

Old Huang was intrigued by the idea and couldn't help but jokingly ask, "Director Yang, Master Chen, does the police have any financial demands for assisting us in the crackdown?"

As expected of a veteran, he knew that no help comes without a cost.

Director Yang turned to look at Director Liao and smiled, "Salted Fish mentioned that law enforcement on the river can't proceed without a boat. He can borrow law enforcement vessels from the Water Police Division, Port Supervision Bureau, and Customs, but the fuel costs must be covered by your team."

"Our team's situation is as you know – we don't have the money!"

"We could keep a tab, and pay them later when we've confiscated the illegal gains."

"That's not a problem."

"Moreover, in cracking down on these illegal sand miners, not only are we assisting your Water Administration enforcement, but also the Port Supervision enforcement, after all, these sand-mining and sand-transporting ships are already affecting water traffic safety. Considering the Port Supervision Bureau realized the difficulty of handling this without police support, they've promised to sponsor a patrol vessel."

Director Yang paused and then continued, "Salted Fish assures full support for Water Administration enforcement and also requests the Water Resources Bureau to possibly sponsor a patrol vessel for the Water Police Division in the future if there's a return of confiscated fines. After all, combating illegal sand mining and ensuring the safety of the Binjiang Yangtze River levee is a long-term task. Without law enforcement vessels, nothing can be done."

The Port Supervision Bureau is famously wealthy.

In the 1980s, they installed so many air conditioners and later built both a traffic management building and office buildings, with the traffic management building becoming a landmark in Binjiang.

The situation in the Water Resources Bureau is only slightly better than the Agricultural Bureau. How could it compare with the financially robust Port Supervision Bureau?

Vice Director Liao was silent for a moment before whispering, "How much does a patrol vessel cost?"

"Six hundred thousand."

"Six hundred thousand!"

"Director Liao, it might sound like a lot, but as long as Captain Huang is determined to crack down on these sand miners, not just six hundred thousand, even six million could be secured."

Master Chen took over the conversation, smiling at Old Huang, "Captain Huang, today I went to inspect the river with Salted Fish. Salted Fish mentioned that the Port Supervision has supervision boats; your Water Administration should similarly be equipped with inspection vessels. I think this is an opportunity. If it weren't for the time constraints, Director Yang and I would not have approached you."

Both national and provincial river management regulations clearly state that Water Administration authorities above the county level have jurisdiction.

In other words, the Linghai Water Resources Bureau can form its own Water Resources Supervision and Enforcement team.

Only now, the requirements for law enforcement personnel set by the superior are strict – one must first undergo training organized by the Water Resources Department, pass exams, and only those who qualify can receive enforcement licenses.

If the requirements weren't so stringent, just like before, simply hanging a sign and carrying receipts for fines would suffice, the Linghai Water Resources Bureau really wouldn't need to seek help from the City Water Resources Bureau.

Covering fuel costs and gifting a patrol vessel worth six hundred thousand, who would willingly part with such an asset?

Yet without the police and Port Supervision assistance, relying solely on a few in the Water Resources Supervision Team, this task would likely be unachievable, and Master Chen's mention of "six million" would merely become a pipe dream.

Vice Director Liao pondered for a while and then raised his head, "Director Yang, Master Chen, such a major issue cannot be decided by me alone; it must be reported to Director Cai and even brought to the Party committee meeting for discussion."

One cannot catch a wolf without setting a trap.

No investment, no return.

Director Yang believed that the City Bureau leaders should understand this principle, and smiled, "Sponsoring the patrol vessel is not urgent, but what's urgent is that we must act swiftly."

Director Huang, surprised at the police's bold request for a patrol vessel worth six hundred thousand, couldn't help asking, "Director Yang, earlier you mentioned that Salted Fish is now the head of the Linghai Police Bureau Development Zone Branch. Can he represent the Water Police Division and the Changhang Bureau?"

"He can."

"And the Port Supervision?"

"The same, he can."

"Is he a Director or Deputy Director in his branch, and can he make decisions on such significant matters? Moreover, the Changhang Bureau and the Port Supervision Bureau are not like our Water Resources Bureau; they are managed vertically."

"He might only be a Deputy Director, but he truly holds sway over matters on the river."

"Is it because he has worked in both the Water Police Division and the Changhang Bureau?"

"It's not just that he has worked in the Water Police Division and the Changhang Bureau; he was also raised under the watchful eyes of leaders from these units, the Port Supervision Bureau, and Customs."

That young man is indeed unique; few people recognize him on land, and possibly many in the Linghai Police don't even see him often, but he thrives on the river.

Thinking it over, Director Yang laughed and said, "Vice Director Zhu Chunmiao of the Port Supervision Bureau not only watched him grow up, but he also acted as his matchmaker. His spouse works at the Port Supervision Bureau, now being the head of the Linghai Port Supervision Office."

Old Huang and Director Teng didn't know who Zhu Chunmiao was, but Vice Director Liao was well aware, and asked in surprise, "Does he know Mayor Qin?"

Director Yang nodded affirmatively, "He grew up under the watch of Mayor Qin."

"Understood."

No longer hesitating, Vice Director Liao stood up and said, "Captain Huang, your team must now focus on cracking down on illegal sand mining. Director Teng, your Legal Affairs Department must fully assist the Water Resources Supervision Team in this matter and thoroughly study the relevant laws and regulations on a timely basis!"

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