Binjiang Police Affairs
Chapter 302 - 217: It Doesn’t Even Qualify as Overwork-Related Illness

Chapter 302: Chapter 217: It Doesn’t Even Qualify as Overwork-Related Illness

Tomorrow is New Year’s Eve. The atmosphere onshore is brimming with festivity as every household is busy with New Year preparations, while many fishermen on the river are busy catching eel fry to make money.

There are those with fishing licenses, and many without.

Those who hold fishing licenses, including fishing enterprises and fishermen, are likewise involved in situations where one license is used for multiple boats, or fishing outside designated areas. Some even set nets in waterways where fishing is strictly prohibited, such as the slots of ship locks, which affects navigational safety.

This time, Patrol 001 is dispatched not only to crack down on water bandits and bully fishermen but also to assist the Fishery Administration and Port Supervision in law enforcement.

When Patrol 001 was sailing near the Lingda Car Ferry area, a Fishery Administration Ship from the Binjiang City Fishery Station appeared before them.

After communicating via the intercom and following the superiors’ orders to sail in formation, they continued downstream, patrolling and inspecting.

Those engaged in illegal fishing believed that the Fishery Administration and police would take a holiday for New Year’s, growing bolder than before, and started to brazenly set nets in the waterway to fish.

Several fishing boats from Salt Sea, upon seeing Patrol 001 and the Fishery Administration Ship, didn’t even bother retrieving their nets and sped away downstream at full throttle.

"Captain Yu, Captain Yu, should we chase them?"

"Did you take any photos for evidence?"

"We did."

"Clear the fishing nets first to ensure the waterway is unobstructed; we will cover you."

Han Yu leaned out to glance at the Fishery Administration Ship about thirty meters to the port side, then bent down to turn on the radio and picked up the handset: "Zhang, Zhang, this is Han Yu, please respond if you receive this."

After about one minute, a response from Zhang Mingyuan came through the radio: "Received, received, go ahead."

"There are four illegal fishing boats fleeing towards you, one of which is Tai Dong Fishery 819. Please coordinate with Linghai Fishery Station and the Third Team of Port Supervision Bureau to intercept."

"Received."

Whether superiors take an issue seriously or not makes a world of difference.

In the past, faced with such situations, it was up to the Fishery Administration to struggle on its own.

Now, there is a joint law enforcement effort among several organizations, and water communications have improved compared to before; almost all law enforcement ships are equipped with very high frequency radios, which allows for information sharing and collective chasing and blocking.

Xu Sanye, filled with emotion, held his binoculars and observed the ferry onshore.

A ferry slowly approached the gentle slope of the ferry terminal while cars were guided onshore by the staff one by one.

The waterway conditions in this area were complex, with numerous vessels traveling upstream and downstream, and a ferry crossing the river every twenty minutes.

The fixed nets that were set by those fishing boats earlier must be cleared in a timely manner, or they could easily tangle with the propellers of passing ships.

The Fishery Administration staff were busy, and Patrol 001 needed to ensure their safety.

Captain Wang turned on the flashing lights, gently maneuvered the steering wheel, and positioned the ship upstream of the Fishery Administration Ship.

Yang Yong stood at the bow, Zhu Baogen at the stern, and Liang Xiaoyu climbed atop the cabin; the three vigilant team members kept watch, ready to alert passing vessels to avoid the area.

Xu Sanye, feeling a bit tired, put down his binoculars: "If only we could patrol and inspect like this every day."

"Master, our Patrol 001 is a gas guzzler, and so are the Fishery Administration ships. The operation doesn’t just involve our two ships; there’s the need to communicate and coordinate with so many units. Operations like this can only be carried out at most twice a year; running them more often is not just prohibitively expensive, it’s unfeasible."

"Besides the Coast Guard, which other departments are involved?"

"The Port Supervision operates on a sectional basis. The Third Team of Port Supervision can only operate up to Niu Peng Port; anything further east requires assistance from East Sea Port Supervision."

Han Yu knew that not only were his legs aching, but his arms were starting to hurt as well; while massaging him, he explained: "The Fishery Administration is not sectionally administered; from Niu Peng Port to the estuary, like us, they’re restricted to cooperating with the East Sea side to enforce law in the river.

If the illegal fishing boats flee towards Zhuangming Island, the Fishery Administration cannot trespass; neither can we. That’s why we need assistance from East Sea Port Supervision, East Sea Fishery Administration, and East Sea Water Police. However, they’re limited in their law enforcement and must also ensure that the southern North Channel remains clear.

Had it not been for those water bandits and bully fishermen threatening and assaulting East Sea fishermen, coercively buying catches, willfully damaging East Sea fishermen’s nets, and even seizing fishing areas, severely disrupting the normal fishery production order, they would not have made such a strong commitment to join us in law enforcement."

Xu Sanye, in severe pain, closed his eyes and asked feebly, "So, which department is actually in charge of this case?"

"The Coast Guard has jurisdiction, as the main offenses by those water bandits occurred in the waters around She Mountain Island, with us and East Sea Water Police Division acting in support." After a moment of thought, Han Yu added, "The Coast Guard not only arranged for their people to come over for investigation and evidence collection but also sent others to Zhuangming Island for the same purpose."

"Do they, being active-duty police, handle cases?"

"Master, they are professionals in maintaining maritime security. Besides, this case isn’t complicated. At the very least, they’ve managed to identify three water bandits based on their physical characteristics and accents, which seem to come from Dongqi."

"They’ve come across the river to investigate and collect evidence; did the Water Police Station arrange for anyone to assist?"

"Commissioner Wang personally accompanied them to Dongqi; the Dongqi City Police Bureau will definitely take this seriously."

"What are you going to do next?"

"Chasing and blocking. The Coast Guard’s patrol boats are currently patrolling and inspecting the waters around She Mountain Island, so we’ll continue downstream. If those water bandits and bully fishermen flee towards the North Branch Channel like before, we and East Sea Water Police Station’s law enforcement boat, which has just arrived at the North Branch Waters, can catch them red-handed."

"How many law enforcement boats has the East Sea Water Police Division deployed?"

"Just one, but the Fishery Administration has several, and they’re all sea vessels."

...

At the same time, Wang Wenhong dropped off two officers from the Border Coast Guard at the Dongqi City Police Bureau and rushed back to his old station, now seated in the director’s office discussing Xu Sanye’s situation with Director Yang and Commissioner Ding.