Captain Lo Van Thao - "Nemesis" of drug crimes in the highlands

(Baonghean) -Born and raised in Chi Khe commune, Con Cuong district, graduating from high school in 1997, Lo Van Thao studied at the Police Academy. After graduating, he was assigned by his superiors to work at the Drug Crime Investigation Police Team of Ky Son District Police from 2002 until now.

With the characteristics of a mountainous district, highland, especially difficult border, bordering Laos, these are favorable factors for the formation of drug trafficking and transportation lines in large quantities. The subjects operate recklessly, ready to use weapons to fight against the task force. By many sophisticated tricks such as exchanging and buying and selling by mobile phones, using women, children, ethnic minorities in buying, selling and transporting drugs, each project has its own characteristics and disadvantages for solving the case.

Captain Lo Van Thao

Captain Lo Van Thao confided: In the years 2002-2007, in Ky Son district, drug crimes were concentrated in almost all communes and towns, of which the most "famous" were in the two communes of Ta Ca and Huu Kiem, where many long-standing complex hotspots were formed such as: Sa Vang, Son Thanh, Na Luong, Ban Ba, Na Chao, Ban Hom... In that situation, the district police commander assigned officers and soldiers of the Drug Crime Investigation Team to focus on eliminating complex drug-related areas, establishing special projects to fight, along with developing

mobilize the entire people to protect national security and order, consolidate and build the political system at the grassroots level.

Captain Lo Van Thao promptly advised the District People's Committee to organize drug rehabilitation and community for the subjects, create records to send addicts to drug rehabilitation centers, reformatory facilities...

After more than 15 years as a "leader" on the front line of fighting drug crimes, Captain Lo Van Thao has become the "nemesis" of criminals. Each of his achievements is associated with the courage and intelligence of his colleagues, sometimes the line between life and death is close. Typical of these are typical projects such as: In 2008, organizing raids and attacking drug dens in My Ly commune, successfully discovering the 108M Drug Project led by Vu Ba Bi (born in 1975) in Huoi Tu, seizing more than 6.6g of heroin, 27 synthetic drug pills, 1 homemade gun; Or the case established by a comrade in the same unit, successfully arresting Ha Tong Xy (born in 1962), in Na Ngoi commune, seizing 6.64g of heroin, this is one of 45 drug cases that the investigation team investigated and arrested in 2010; then Project 311M arrested Lau Y Tong (born in 1960), residing in Nam Can commune, seizing 317 synthetic drug pills, 25.5g of heroin, which occurred in early 2012.

Captain Thao confided: “In recent years, drug criminals have become more and more sophisticated and cunning. For money, they are willing to do anything, if they cannot bribe me, they will turn to threatening and controlling me… Many times, the subjects have tried to bribe me, but under any circumstances, I have refused”. In the fight against criminal activities in Ky Son, it is even more difficult because there are many complicated drug retail points, operating in closed families and clans with sophisticated and unpredictable tricks. In order for people to live in peace, border soldiers like Captain Lo Van Thao and his teammates have had to sacrifice a lot.

With his personal efforts in the fight against crime and ensuring a peaceful life for the people, Captain Lo Van Thao himself has been recognized by his superiors and awarded many noble titles: For many consecutive years, he was awarded a certificate of merit by the Provincial Police Director, in 2008-2009, he was awarded a certificate of merit by the Provincial People's Committee Chairman, in 2007, he received a certificate of merit from the Ministry of Public Security; two consecutive years as an Emulation Fighter (2009-2010) and many certificates of merit in campaigns launched by the Ministry of Public Security. When asked about the reason why he has been attached to this land for such a long time, Captain Thao confided, it must be because of the love of the people here that has kept me here, that is the love of comrades, teammates and the people in the highland villages.

Trinh Xuan Thong