Coast Guard busts drug cases

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12kg of drugs seized by competent authorities on April 26. Photo: Lam Giang

The Coast Guard has coordinated with competent forces to tackle many large drug cases.

According to Senior Lieutenant Colonel Phan Quang Huy, Head of Drug Crime Prevention Department (Coast Guard Command), drug trafficking is increasingly complicated, affecting security, social order and safety.

Preliminary statistics show that, from the beginning of the year, the Coast Guard has detected and handled nearly 100 cases, with over 120 suspects, and seized a large quantity of drugs.

In the peak period of crime prevention and control before, during and after the Lunar New Year 2022, the Coast Guard busted 69 cases, and arrested 96 suspects, prosecuted nine cases and 11 suspects.

The authority seized 38 bricks of heroin, 108.8 grams of heroin, 36.877 tablets and over 60.3kg of synthetic drugs, six cars, 50 motorbikes and many other infringing goods. The force has consecutively handled 4-5 cases related to the illegal transportation of drugs in just one week.

Notably, from April 16 to 19, Task Force No.2 prosecuted two drug-related cases. On April 16, the force arrested Tran Danh Loi, 33, residing in Yen Thanh District, Nghe An province for illegal drug possession, and seized 37 tablets of synthetic drugs and 2,005 grams of methamphetamine.

A day later, Task Force No.2 coordinated with the competent force in the area in detecting two cases and arresting two suspects

On April 26, the High Command of Coast Guard Region 1 coordinated with the Police force to successfully fight the trafficking of 12kg of synthetic drugs; arrested two suspects including Do Tien Son, 31, residing in Thong Kenh commune, Gia Loc district, and Pham Van Long, 32, residing in Thuy Lam village, Thanh Son commune, Thanh Ha district, Hai Duong province.

Earlier, on April 6, in Gia Vien District, Ninh Binh province, the Task Force No.1 coordinated with PC04 Division (Ninh Binh Police) to arrest Nguyen Trong Hai, 40, for illegal drug possession and transportation, seize 1 brick and 2.539 grams of heroin, 405 synthetic drug tablets and many other infringing goods.

Nguyen Trong Hai and infringing goods. Photo: Huy Hoang

On April 27, in Ward 5, Vung Tau City, the High Command of Coast Guard Region 3 arrested Huynh Ngoc Hai, 25, for illegal possession of four packages of synthetic drugs, weighing about 0.6612 grams, and one mobile phone.

According to a representative of the High Coast Guard Command, drug-related crime has been increasingly complicated, especially since the Covid-19 pandemic was brought under control.

The operation of the crime nationwide and in northern and central sea areas is forecast to continue to be unpredictable, with the participation of foreign drug dealers and rings that abuse the seaway to transport drugs by sophisticated methods. Therefore, the Coast Guard force has determined that the fight against drug-related crimes in the sea area will suffer from difficulties.

The High Coast Guard Command has regularly requested units to strictly follow the Party's resolutions, directives and plans of the Government and the Ministry of National Defense, and coordinate with other competent agencies to prevent drug-related crime; asked units and working teams to grasp the situation related to drug crimes to promptly advise and propose measures to combat effectively.

The High Coast Guard Command has also directed specialized units to collaborate with other forces to implement plans for drug-related crime prevention and control in key areas, especially at sea and coastal areas, and plans on fighting and arresting drug-related criminals and rings; support forces and technical means in monitoring smugglers and ships at sea to exchange information related to methods, tricks and new drugs.