Challenges in fight against drug crimes in the age of technology

	Anti-Smuggling and Investment Department receives international award for environmental enforcement
	Seize hundreds of kilograms of drugs in the peak month
	Border guard tackle drug crimes

1cP-LSD is impregnated on a sheet of paper that can be cut into hundreds of stamps in the case discovered by Team 5 and competent authorities. Photo: Team 5

A customs officer of the Northern Region Anti-Smuggling Enforcement Team (Team 5, Anti-Smuggling and Investigation Department, General Department of Customs) on May 16 said Vietnam is located near the "Golden Triangle" area, one of the three key drug-related areas in the world, so the drug trafficking across Vietnam's border has always been complicated. The drugs seizures by Vietnamese authorities have shown signs of increasing.

Notably, in the age of science and technology, online trade and delivery of goods are extremely convenient, easy and popular.

Taking advantage of this method, many criminals have expanded online trading activities and developed transnational drug crime lines by abusing express delivery and international post.

Suspects often use fake names, addresses and phone numbers to send and receive goods.

When the goods arrive in Vietnam, the suspects will hire someone to receive the goods or authorize an express company to carry out customs procedures and send the goods to a designated address. Those who are hired to receive the goods do not know there are drugs inside and think the goods are gifts.

“In addition, suspects can track the goods’ journey (each parcel has an account for monitoring). When the goods do not go through customs clearance according to the specified time, the suspects often abandon the goods and cut off contact. Therefore, it is very difficult to arrest and handle criminals. This problem is discussed to find solutions by the customs agency in coordination with other authorities,” said the leader of Team 5

Vietnam Customs has actively worked with authorities inside and outside the sector to investigate, verify and handle many cases of drug trafficking.

One of the typical cases is the illicit trade and trafficking of drugs from the Netherlands through Shenzhen (China), to Vietnam via air.

Specifically, on February 18, 2022, at Nguyen Van Cu Street, Gia Thuy Ward, Long Bien District, Hanoi, the Working Group (including: Team 5; Long Bien District Police; Drug Enforcement Team and The Express Delivery Customs Branch under the Hanoi Customs Department) arrested suspects and seized one piece of paper (including 500 small stamps) weighed 8.4g impregnated with 150mcg 1cP-LSD and many other related items. 1cP-LSD is a substance with hallucinogenic effects similar to the LSD drug found in "tongue stamps".

In this case, the suspects order stamps online and the seller packed the stamps in an envelope sent from the Netherlands to Vietnam by air (by postal type). 1cP - LSD is sprayed and impregnated on absorbent paper which can be torn into small stamps for use.

"The evidence in the case is not large, but the danger is that this is a new drug that has just entered Vietnam and the methods and tricks of the suspects are very sophisticated," said the leader of Team 5.

Not only by road and by air, but also by sea, there are many potential risks of drug trafficking and illegal transportation activities.

In particular, the authorities have discovered drugs hidden in fake walls inside vehicles, containers and bulky shipments.

The leader of Team 5 said that drug prevention and control must be further strengthened and meet new requirements and tasks. Accordingly, the Customs sector will focus on developing strategic, long-term and cross-cutting solutions and comprehensive solutions to improve the capacity of the customs officers who are in charge of drug prevention.

Transnational drug crimes on unpredictable air routes VCN - Due to the influence of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Government has directed the forces to ...

Furthermore, customs will strengthen the application of science and technology and use specialized equipment and sniffer dogs; promote coordination between Customs authorities, domestic authorities and foreign customs agencies and international organizations in the fight against drug-related crimes and effective control of drug-related activities.