Changes in border communes that used to be 'hot spots' for security and order

Prevent and repel drugs

Tri Le commune is located about 30km from the center of Que Phong district, home to four ethnic groups: Thai, Mong, Kho Mu and Kinh. The terrain is mostly mountainous, bordering Chau Thon, Nam Nhoong (Que Phong); Huu Khuong (Tuong Duong) communes, and Hua Phan province (Laos) with a 17km border. With these factors, this is a gateway for transporting drugs, forest products, rare animals... from Laos and vice versa, causing instability in the security and order situation in the area.

Since 2020, the regular police force in the commune has promoted its core role, coordinating with the Party Committee, the government and the Border Guard to implement many measures to maintain security and order in the area, especially building and synchronously implementing the Project to build a "Drug-free border commune", creating a change from awareness to action at all levels, sectors and all people in building a drug-free border belt.

With the characteristics of the area having rugged terrain and many ethnic groups living there, local authorities and functional forces must deploy many approaches and propaganda measures suitable to the customs and practices of the people such as: Direct propaganda in villages and groups of households; propaganda on loudspeaker systems, mobile loudspeakers, distributing leaflets with familiar and easy-to-understand content and images... Officers and soldiers in the police and border guards also proactively learn the ethnic languages ​​to facilitate mass mobilization work.

“The commune has 5 Mong villages. The people are quite closed off but they are very good at going into the forest, so many people take advantage of them to transport drugs to the border through small-scale routes. Therefore, in addition to approaching the area to propagate and mobilize, the commune police have consulted and coordinated with functional units to approach and attack a series of complex drug dens in the commune. From there, many complex dens were eliminated, mixed in with residential areas” - Senior Lieutenant Nguyen Hong Quan - Head of Tri Le Commune Police said.

With many synchronous solutions, in 2022, Tri Le Commune Police discovered 15 cases related to drug trafficking, arresting 17 subjects. In 2023, arrested and prosecuted 7 cases/9 subjects related to drugs; made records to send 15 people to the Voluntary Drug Addiction Rehabilitation Center.

Together with the commune police force, Tri Le Commune Border Guard Station also promoted professional work, increased patrols, control and combat against crimes, minimizing complicated problems that may occur in the border area. In 2023, Tri Le Border Guard Station presided over, detected, arrested, and prosecuted 5 cases/8 subjects, with evidence confiscating 23.63 grams of heroin and 2,013 pink synthetic drug pills. In coordination with the Drug and Crime Prevention Department, Border Guard Stations, the police force arrested and handled 6 cases/6 subjects, with evidence confiscating 76.6 grams of heroin, 5,017 pink synthetic drug pills, 1 K59 gun, 8 bullets. Thereby, contributing to stabilizing the situation in the area (April 2022, launching the model "Drug-free border commune"By March 2023, Tri Le commune was recognized as a drug-free commune).

Do a good job of mass mobilization

In addition to professional measures, many models and projects with strong influence have also been actively implemented by the functional forces in coordination with local Party committees and authorities, closely following the people and villages, such as: "Ensuring security and order and preventing and combating trafficking in women"; "Preventing child marriage and incestuous marriage", "Strengthening legal dissemination and education for officials and people in border areas"; Building typical village elders, village chiefs, and prestigious people in implementing the movement "All people protect national security"; reminding and mobilizing relatives and clans to stay away from social evils, not assisting bad guys in committing illegal acts... Thereby, helping the functional forces to effectively perform the function of State management of social order and safety, proactively grasping the situation at the grassroots level. At the same time, raising awareness and legal consciousness for local officials and people.

Talking to us, Senior Lieutenant Nguyen Hong Quan - Head of Tri Le Commune Police confided: "Working in the highlands, each of us police officers determined that we must not only perform well the task of preventing and suppressing crime, but also care for and be close to the people, and advise them on legal issues. From there, we create trust and prestige among the people. When people trust us, anything can be solved."

For example, in Muong Long village, the families of Tho Tong S. and Tho Lanh Th. had farms next to each other, sharing a fence. Due to free-range farming, a pig from Mr. S. ran into Mr. Th.'s house. Neither side would give in. Mr. S. thought that Mr. Th. had stolen his pig, and Mr. Th. was angry because Mr. S. had falsely accused him. To clarify this matter, Mr. S. invited the Village Management Board and the villagers to come and settle the matter. However, the matter was still not resolved, so Mr. S. continued to write a petition to the authorities. Knowing this, Senior Lieutenant Nguyen Hong Quan and the commune authorities invited each side to talk and analyze the reason and the emotion. Afterwards, Mr. Th. returned the pig to Mr. S. and Mr. S. also apologized to his neighbor.

As forTri Le Commune Border Guard Station, in parallel with the work of grasping the area, the officers and soldiers of the Station have also deployed many "Smart Mass Mobilization" models to help people eliminate hunger, reduce poverty, stabilize their lives, avoid being taken advantage of by bad guys, and lure them into doing illegal things. In 2023, the Station maintained 3 economic development models; helped people with 626 working days, taking care of rice and crop harvests; renovated and repaired 1.5 km of rural roads; dredged and repaired 4 km of irrigation canals. In addition, in coordination with the 4th Military Economic Group, it opened an illiteracy eradication class in Muong Long village with 27 students; coordinated with the commune police force and local departments, branches and organizations to survey 109 households with makeshift, dilapidated houses; directly constructed 14 house foundations in Mong Huoi Xai and Muong Long villages according to the Project to Eliminate Thatched and Dilapidated Houses of the Ministry of Public Security.

Talking about the changes in the area, Mr. Xong Ba Cha - Vice Chairman of Tri Le Commune People's Committee said: The Commune Police force and the Border Guard Station stationed in the area are always proactive, timely coordinating, supporting the Party Committee and the government; at the same time proposing and advising many policies and models suitable to the practical situation. Thereby, contributing to changing people's awareness; mobilizing the spirit of solidarity and the combined strength of ethnic minorities in preventing and fighting crimes, maintaining security and order, border security; creating a solid foundation for socio-economic development, implementing local hunger eradication and poverty reduction programs.