Seizing 607 bricks of heroin and other drugs

The situation of drug-related crime has continued to be hot with many large-scale cases closed by the Customs force.

According to the General Department of Vietnam Customs, from the beginning of the year until now, the drug-related crime situation in Vietnam continues to develop complicatedly due to the impact of the drug-related crime situation in the world and the region. The source of drugs is still mainly from abroad, especially from the Golden Triangle area, and drugs are illegally traded and transported across the land border routes to Vietnam for partial consumption and then transported to a third country.

At border gates, illegal drug transport is complicated and unpredictable. Domestic and foreign drug-related crimes have closely linked together, forming transnational crime lines and criminal organisations, with a mode of identity concealment and sophisticated camouflage and daily transportation activities are more dynamic, reckless and serious.

The sea route continues to be used by criminals to buy, sell and transport drugs in large quantities from abroad to Vietnam and from Vietnam to third countries. This is a route with many potential risks of drug-related crime for taking advantage, due to its wide scope and being extremely difficult to control, requiring more investment in vehicles and coordination of inspection and enforcement force.

From the beginning of 2020 up to now, the Customs force and authorities have detected and arrested many cases of illegal transportation of narcotics including methamphetamine, ketamine and heroin in large quantities transported from Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia and Thailand penetrated through road border gates, to HCM City and then transported to Taiwan, Philippines, Australia and South Korea by sea.

Regarding specific results, updated by the General Department of Vietnam Customs from January 1 to September 30, the Customs force worked with competent forces to arrest 139 cases and 167 subjects.

Exhibits seized 40.14kg and 607 bricks of heroin; 1.01 kg of cocaine; 19.88 kg of marijuana; 13.43 kg of opium; 794.54kg and 336,043 tablets of synthetic drug; and 5 kg of ketamine.

In the action month of drug prevention in 2020 (June 2020), the Customs force worked with competent forces to detect 35 cases and arrest 55 subjects.

Many cases involved large quantities of drugs, typically, the achievements of the Customs forces of provinces and cities: Hanoi, Dien Bien, Nghe An, Ha Tinh, Gia Lai - Kon Tum, HCM City, northern anti-smuggling enforcement Unit and the southern anti-smuggling enforcement unit under the Anti-Smuggling and Investigation Department.

The exhibits seized including 51.1 kg of heroin; 8kg of opium; 169.3 kg and 193,861 tablets of synthetic drug of all kinds; nine guns, 28 bullets and one grenade.