Border guard tackle drug crimes

	Ha Tinh Customs prevents drug crimes amid Covid-19 pandemic
	Transnational drug crimes on unpredictable air routes
	Amending coordination regulation on fighting drug crimes

Trafficker Dang Quoc Hung (second from right) and exhibits of six heroin bricks, 1 kg of ketamine and 12,000 red tablets in CB 0820 case broken by the Ha Tinh Border Guard and Ha Tinh. Photo: The Manh

48 special projects, seizing 950 kg of drugs

In the first six months of 2021, Border Guard units nationwide worked with other forces to tackle 48 special projects, handling 511 cases with 710 suspects and seizing more than 950kg of drugs of all kinds. In which, the Border Guard force presided over 343 cases with 418 suspects and seized 747.5kg of drugs of all kinds.

Special Project 421 by Dien Bien Border Guard involved the arrest of one criminal and seizure of 12,000 synthetic drug pills; Special Project 177 N dismantled by the Southern Special Task Force on Drugs and Crime Prevention under the Drug and Crime Prevention and Control Department of the Border Guard Command in collaboration with Departments C04 and A06 under the Ministry of Public Security, arresting four people and seizing 30 kg of drugs synthetic drugs.

So far this year, the border areas of the northwest and north-central provinces have recorded trafficking cases of heroin and synthetic drugs into Vietnam. The Vietnam-Cambodia border has seen trafficking cases of synthetic drugs in large quantities across the border areas of Dong Thap and An Giang to HCM City and to other provinces and cities.

Facing the above situation, the Border Guard Command has directed its units to strengthen human resources to carry out 2021 crime prevention programmes and projects.

On May 13, the Border Guard Command issued Plan 1723/KH-BDBP to open the peak of anti-drug crimes on the occasion of the "The Action Month Against Drug in 2021”.

To implement the plan, the Drug and Crime Prevention and Control Department has deployed professional plans to units nationwide; assume the prime responsibility for setting up specialised projects to fight and dismantle large and transnational drug trafficking networks.

In addition to fighting drug crimes, Border Guard has strengthened border patrols and controls to prevent and combat illegal immigration.

Focus on cracking down on transnational drug lines

The Department of Drug and Crime Prevention and Control said the fight against drug crimes has achieved remarkable results, but they have not been commensurate with reality.

Recently, acts of drug criminals are increasingly sophisticated, reckless and with the participation of many professional people. Large-scale drug trafficking lines are led by foreigners who connect with Vietnamese people. In particular, drug traffickers are organised into many levels, equipped with weapons, and they aggressively fight against authorities.

Effectiveness in cooperation for processing criminal cases between Customs and Police

According to Colonel Nguyen Van Hiep, Deputy Director of the Drug and Crime Prevention and Control Department, drug trafficking and transportation on border routes will continue to be complex with a large volume and foreign elements. The department has requested professional units concentrate forces and facilities, strengthen basic measures, and apply science and technology to fight the crime; coordinate and with competent forces such as Security, Customs, Coast Guard and neighbouring countries’ authorities to investigate and combat cross-border drug trafficking and transportation lines; promote information and encourage border citizens to well comply with regulation on pandemic prevention and not to well in epidemic prevention and control, not to help drug trafficking and transportation activities, and illegal immigration.