Quang Tri Customs prevents drug transportation across border gates

	Quang Tri: Smuggled goods hidden in passenger cars
	Lao Bao Customs detected 19 kg drugs in loudspeakers
	Quang Tri: Imported goods subjected to specialized inspection accounting for 65%

Customs officers of Lao Bao Border Gate Customs Branch inspect vehicles on entry. Photo: Q.H

Recently, in the provinces of Nghe An, Ha Tinh, Quang Binh, Quang Tri, forces have cracked many cases of drug transportation in large quantities, and seized hundreds of kg of crystal meth and thousands of synthetic drugs tablets. In border gates neighbouring with Laos such as Nam Can, Cau Treo, Cha Lo, Lao Bao, forces identified that these are targeted areas of illegal trafficking and transportation of drugs from the "Golden Triangle" area into Vietnam.

At Lao Bao Border Gate Customs Branch (Quang Tri Customs Department), in addition to the best conditions for import and export activities, Customs forces are vigilante for people who abuse the facilitation in Customs procedures to illegally transport goods across borders.

From the beginning of the year to now, the anti-drugs forces of the Ministry of Public Security have destroyed many cases of storageand transportation of drugs in large quantities. Through the investigation, all suspects claimed drugs were transported from Laos via border gates in the Central region and Central Highlands to Vietnam. Therefore, the leader of Lao Bao Border Gate Customs Branch requested specialised units to strengthen the inspection and supervision at border gates, especially toraise vigilance for illegal drug trafficking and transport across border gates.

According to the statistics from Lao Bao Border Gate Customs Branch, imported, exported and transited goods, means of transport on exit and entry, luggage of passengers on exit and entry increased by 50% compared to 2018. In the first half of the year, the total number of means of transport on exit and entry via the area was 54,742 vehicles, up 52.3%; nearly 202,000 passengers on exit and entry, up 5.6%. Import and export turnover reached more than USD 136 million, up 69%.

Manager of Lao Bao Border Gate Customs Branch Nguyen An Dinh said the number of means of transport on exit and entry increased but it was infrequent. Passenger vehicles running fixed routes made up6-7 journeys /day. Notably, at the end of 2018, the Branch used scanners and sniffing dogs to detect 19 kg of crystal meth hidden in two loudspeakers. To control this situation, the Branch strengthened the control and used technical facilities and coordinated with border guard forces to exchange information.

In June, the Anti-drug Enforcement Team under Quang Tri Customs Department has completed preparation for the deployment of propaganda activities for “the action month for drug prevention and control”.

Deputy Head of the Anti-drug Enforcement Team, Nguyen Van Tri said the illegal trafficking and transportation of drugs in the area are mainly focused on heroin andsynthetic drugs in tablet form. Currently, there have been cases of transportation of crystal meth. Competent forces also forecasted that when they strengthen the control and seize many cases of drug transportation with a large quantity along the Vietnam- Laos border, suspects transported drugs from Laos to Vietnam through Quang Tri province, including crystal meth.

In the first half of 2019, the Team found five cases of illegally storing drugs and arrested seven suspects; seizing 6,353 tablets of synthetic drugs and1.5 kg of crystal meth.

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Recently, leaders of Quang Tri Customs Department requested customs forces at border gates of Lao Bao, La Lay to intensify the analysis and identify imported, exported and transited goods, vehicles and passengers on exit and entry; enhance performance efficiency of tools and equipment to support inspection such as luggage scanners, sniffing dogs.

For Customs force specialising in drug prevention and combat, they should strengthen the information collection and classification of subjects, regularly exchange and coordinate with customs forces at border gates and Border Guard, Police to prevent and arrest suspects.

They must also continue to implement the customs control measures for import and export activities and immigration with high risk such as goods that are bulky and difficult to control, goods in transit, express delivery goods and check-in baggage.