Ministry of Public Security rewards the task force that dismantled a drug trafficking group in the forest in Nghe An

The untold story of the shootout with drug criminals in the forest

(Baonghean.vn) - After about an hour of gunfight, the drug gang fled into the forest, leaving behind the body of the leader and firearms.

On the morning of October 30, Nghe An Provincial Police held a ceremony to award the outstanding achievements of Task Force 918C in the fight against drug crimes. Attending the ceremony were comrade Thai Thanh Quy - Alternate member of the Party Central Committee, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the People's Committee of Nghe An Province. Photo: Pham Bang

Reporting at the ceremony, Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Dinh Anh - Head of the Drug Crime Investigation Police Department (PC04) said that Project 918C was established by Nghe An Provincial Police after discovering a number of groups of people carrying firearms illegally buying and selling drugs in the border area of ​​Tuong Duong district.

Xop Pu village area, Yen Na commune, Tuong Duong district - where drug criminals hide.

Among them, a group led by Sua (a Laotian Mong) emerged. This group operated closely and sophisticatedly, always sending guards and protectors when delivering "goods". They always carried hot weapons such as AK guns, stun guns, grenades, and were ready to fight back against the authorities when being chased.

The AK gun, 2 grenades and many bullets were seized by police at the scene. Photo provided by police

The project mobilized hundreds of officers and soldiers from the Drug Crime Investigation Police Department, the Mobile Police Department, Tuong Duong District Police, the Criminal Techniques Department, the Investigation Police Office, the Logistics Department, the Party Affairs Department and the Political Affairs Department.

In particular, the Ministry of Public Security sent a working group of the Drug Crime Investigation Police Department, led by Major General Pham Van Cac, Director, directly to Nghe An to coordinate and direct the investigation of the case.

On October 26, the Task Force decided to crack the case. After a gunfight with a criminal group in the Kem slope area, Xop Pu village, Yen Na commune, Tuong Duong district, the leader Sua died on the spot from a gunshot wound, and Sua's two accomplices fled into the deep forest. The task force ensured absolute safety for the forces participating in the case and the people.

Comrade Thai Thanh Quy - Alternate member of the Party Central Committee, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee commended the outstanding achievements of the Special Investigation Committee. Photo: Pham Bang

Speaking at the ceremony, Comrade Thai Thanh Quy - Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee congratulated and praised the achievements of Nghe An Provincial Police in general and the Task Force in particular. "This is one of the outstanding achievements of the Provincial Police, demonstrating the spirit of perseverance, tenacity, intelligence, bravery and determination in the fight against drug crimes of the leaders and officers and soldiers of the Provincial Police", the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee affirmed.

According to the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, in addition to successfully destroying the case and taking down a major ringleader, the success of the case was to ensure absolute safety for the forces participating in the case. After the case, a number of groups of people illegally trading in drugs in the mountainous areas of Tuong Duong district withdrew from the border area of ​​Nghe An province.

The Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee awarded Certificates of Merit to 3 groups with outstanding achievements in Project 918C. Photo: Pham Bang

The Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee also requested the Nghe An Provincial Police to focus on comprehensive and drastic solutions to fight against "supply blocking, demand reducing", resolutely not allowing drug crimes to become complicated. "Comrades must strengthen the fight to effectively prevent drug smuggling across the border, and eradicate drug trafficking lines from Laos to Nghe An. Only then will the situation of drug trafficking and use decrease", the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee affirmed.

At the ceremony, the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee awarded Certificates of Merit to 3 groups: the Drug Crime Investigation Police Department, the Mobile Police Department, and Tuong Duong District Police for their outstanding achievements in successfully dismantling Project 918C. The Provincial People's Committee awarded the units in the Project Board 50 million VND.

In addition, the Ministry of Public Security has sent a letter of commendation to the Task Force and awarded 5 units that participated in solving the case 10 million VND each. The Provincial Police Director also sent a letter of commendation and awarded the Task Force 20 million VND.

Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee and representative of Tuong Duong district presented flowers to congratulate the success of the Special Task Force. Photo: Pham Bang

Previously, at around 0:00 on October 26, at the Kem slope area of ​​Xop Pu village, Yen Na commune, Tuong Duong district, Nghe An provincial police coordinated with Department C04 (Ministry of Public Security) to arrest a group of Lao people illegally trading in drugs, using firearms.

The police fired warning shots into the air, calling on the group to drop their weapons and surrender. However, the group opened fire at the police in an attempt to escape. After their calls for surrender were unsuccessful, the police had to return fire to ensure absolute safety for the task force.

Examining the scene, the police discovered that the leader, Sua, died on the spot from a gunshot wound, and his two accomplices escaped into the forest.

The task force seized at the scene 1 AK gun, 2 grenades, 18 bullets, 3 heroin cakes, and 12,000 synthetic drug pills.