Fighting against drug crimes: Many difficulties remain

(Baonghean) - From Xieng Nua village, the center of Yen Na commune (Tuong Duong), we prepared to go to the district center when the sun was setting behind the mountains. The locals advised us against it, because it was almost dark, and going through Ve slope at that time was very dangerous, and we could easily be robbed and begged by drug addicts. We still decided to go, with two teacher friends accompanying us as "escorts".

The group of motorbikes drove closely together, with bright lights on, and slowly climbed Ve slope. After about 3 km downhill, they encountered a group of young men standing on their motorbikes by the side of the road, watching them closely. From there, they reached Cua Rao bridge (Xa Luong commune), and they encountered about 3-4 more groups like that. According to local people, these groups of young men were mostly drug addicts, and if they passed by alone at a quiet time, they could easily be provoked. Because this is a drug hotspot, the security and order situation is extremely complicated.

Doc Ve - a drug hotspot in Tuong Duong.

Senior Lieutenant Nguyen Huu Phong, Deputy Head of the Criminal - Economic - Drug Team, Tuong Duong District Police, said that the situation of drug crimes in the area is complicated and unpredictable. Among them, there are subjects from other provinces and foreigners who collude with key subjects in the area to organize heroin trading. They turn locations such as Pu Lom (Luong Minh), Doc Ve (Yen Na), Pu Huot (Xieng My) ... into drug exchange hotspots. Recently, the police force has established many projects and implemented plans to raid these hotspots to stabilize security and order. But in reality, the fight against and prevention of drug crimes still faces many difficulties, for many reasons.

Firstly, drug trafficking hotspots often have rugged terrain, high mountains and deep ravines, making it easy for the subjects to escape when being chased by the authorities. They often set up tents in dangerous locations, with their own signals before organizing the exchange of "goods". Not to mention those on the outer ring, pretending to be passersby to act as "watchdogs", when strangers appear, they immediately signal to their accomplices.

Second, identifying illegal drug trafficking as “super profitable”, when arrested they will be sentenced to heavy sentences, even death penalty, so these subjects are very reckless, reckless, causing many difficulties for the authorities. The big shots often carry hot weapons such as AK guns, grenades and homemade guns. When surrounded and chased, they are ready to fight back. A typical example is the arrest of a drug trafficker in Xa Luong commune. This subject went up the mountain to set up a camp to sell heroin, he always carried an AK with him. In the middle of a hot summer afternoon, the police officers struggled to move up the slope, arriving at the camp site just in time when the criminal woke up, leaned over and held the AK. Taking the initiative, they knocked the subject down and handcuffed him. Or the arrest of Lo Van May, residing in Ve village (Yen Na) was also a time when the police officers had to face danger. Receiving the news that this person had just received the "goods" and was on his way back near the Coi bridge (Luong Minh), Senior Lieutenant Moong Van Son turned his motorbike in the middle of the road to stop him. Hitting an obstacle, May fell down. May struggled and fought back fiercely. It was dark, rainy and slippery, so Son encountered many difficulties. Hearing the struggle, the Coi villagers came out and helped control the subject. Controlling May, they seized 2 grams of heroin and 2 homemade pistols with bullets loaded into the barrels.

In Tuong Duong, the rate of drug addicts is always high, among the top in the province. Currently, this number is over 1,200 people with management records. That many drug addicts will consume a large amount of drugs in one day, multiplied by weeks and months, it is truly a very large number. Drug sources continue to be smuggled across the border and the trade becomes more complicated and sophisticated.

Another difficulty in the fight against drugs in Tuong Duong is the job creation for drug addicts after rehabilitation. At the Tuong Duong District Education-Labor-Social Center, we met Lo Van Que, Quang Van Ca, Quang Van Sao and Vi Van Manh. They are students who are undergoing rehabilitation at the center and are about to return to their families. During the 2-year rehabilitation period, they learned fine art carpentry and were able to make valuable products themselves. All 4 of them wish to return to carpentry to earn a living. However, they are all worried because their families are poor and have no capital, and their wishes will be difficult to come true if they are not given the opportunity to borrow capital for production. If they do not have a job, are bored, and are persuaded by friends, relapse is understandable.

Thus, the fight against drug crimes in Tuong Duong is really facing many difficulties and complications. Therefore, in addition to establishing special projects and destroying hotspots, it is necessary to step up propaganda work, raise awareness among all classes of people, promote drug rehabilitation and create jobs after rehabilitation.

Article and photos:TUONG ANH