US Ambassador Michael Marine thanked Vietnam for its cooperation in the fight against the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.

"It is our hope that this equipment... will assist your agencies in the more effective performance of a task that is a vital link in the overall effort to block the illegal transit of controlled materials," Marine said.

The US handed over 18 radiation pagers valued at a total of 91,000 dollars to the Department of Customs and the Border Army, a grant made under the auspices of the US Export Control and Border Security programme.

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