Don't be a… 'poor example'!

Sad stories

In March 2021, authorities dismantled a trafficking ring.drugThey were transported from Nghe An to Hanoi using sophisticated methods.

Specifically, at 8:40 PM on March 9th, in Hai Ba Trung district, Hanoi City Police inspected and discovered in a plastic bag carried by Vu Thi La (born in 1985, residing in Bach Mai ward, Hai Ba Trung district) four plastic bags containing white crystals and two plastic containers of shrimp paste. Each plastic container held nine gray plastic tubes, inside which were plastic bags containing white crystals.

The drugs were hidden in shrimp paste bottles by the two suspects, Là and Hoài, and transported from Nghe An to Hanoi. (Photo: CAND)

The forensic examination revealed that the methamphetamine weighed 1,761.24 grams. Based on the testimony of Vu Thi La, a task force went to Nghe An to coordinate the arrest of Hoang Xuan Hoai, residing on Phan Huy Chu Street, Trung Do Ward (Vinh City). A search of Hoai's residence yielded 174.68 grams of methamphetamine and 120,000,000 VND; thus, the total seized evidence included 1,935.87 grams of methamphetamine, 120,000,000 VND, and other related items.

It's worth noting that before becoming a suspect in this case, Hoai was a lecturer at a university. Due to business losses and debts, Hoai connected with La, forming an inter-provincial drug trafficking ring. The drugs were carefully wrapped in plastic bags, placed in dark plastic tubes sealed at both ends to prevent water leakage, then hidden in containers used for shrimp paste and sent via passenger buses from Nghe An to Hanoi. The case is currently under investigation.

The suspect, Lầu Bá Xìa, and the seized evidence. Photo courtesy of Vũ Thành.

Previously, on May 22, 2020, in Khe Nằn village, Chiêu Lưu commune (Kỳ Sơn district), the Kỳ Sơn District Police, in coordination with the Anti-Drug Control Team of the Nghe An Customs Department and the Chiêu Lưu Commune Police, arrested Lầu Bá Xìa (born in 1974), residing in Trường Sơn village, Nậm Cắn commune, for the crime of "illegally buying and selling narcotics." At the scene, authorities seized 2 kg of methamphetamine, 2 blocks of heroin, 19,400 synthetic drug pills, 1 mobile phone, 1 motorbike, and other related evidence. At the time of his arrest, Lầu Bá Xìa was a teacher at a secondary school in the area.

At the first-instance trial on December 28, 2020, the trial panel determined that the defendant, despite having knowledge of the law, committed a crime of exceptional severity, involving premeditation and a very large quantity of drugs, and therefore needed to be removed from society. Consequently, Lầu Bá Xìa was sentenced to the highest penalty: death.

Nghe An province has a 468.28 km long border with 5 border gates and hundreds of small border crossings. Its rugged mountainous terrain provides a favorable environment for drug traffickers to hide and operate. An investigating officer stated: To evade law enforcement, these criminals even recruit not only teachers and students but also village and commune officials to participate in the illegal trafficking of narcotics.

A typical example is the case of Lau Giong Long, former head of Huoi Thang village, Huoi Tu commune (Ky Son district). Under the guise of a diligent village head working in the fields, Lau Giong Long gained the trust of the people. However, Long fell into the path of drug trafficking, and not only that, he also dragged his wife, Ho Y Co (born in 1975), into it, because Co, being Laotian, was familiar with the terrain and could easily connect with drug dealers in Laos.

Lầu Giống Lồng and Hờ Y Cở, a married couple, at their arrest with the seized evidence and at the trial. Photo: Bảo Nguyên - Trần Vũ

After a period of surveillance, one night in April 2019, two shadowy figures carrying backpacks and exhibiting suspicious behavior appeared in the deep forest area of ​​Huoi Thang village. It was believed that Lau Giong Long and his wife were delivering drugs. Immediately, police officers from Ky Son district, in coordination with the Anti-Drug Control Team of the Provincial Customs Department, simultaneously raided the area to arrest them. Long and his wife fiercely resisted, but were subdued and apprehended by the officers. At the scene, authorities seized two blocks of heroin and 6,000 synthetic drug pills. Further urgent search of Long's house uncovered one block of heroin and 5 kg of methamphetamine. The investigation revealed that on March 30, 2019, Lau Giong Long had been entrusted by two Laotian men with hiding four blocks of heroin, 30 packets of methamphetamine, and five packets of crystal methamphetamine for sale in exchange for payment.

With the drugs seized, Lồng committed drug trafficking twice. The first time was on March 30, 2019, when Lồng sold one block of heroin weighing 342.66 grams to a man named Dũng for 115 million VND and received 2 million VND in commission from two Laotians. The second time, both Lồng and his wife, Cở, were arrested. In court, Lồng confessed that he resorted to drug trafficking due to financial hardship. The court determined that Lồng, despite having served as village head for many years and possessing legal knowledge, still disregarded the law and trafficked drugs. Therefore, Lồng was sentenced to death for "Illegal trafficking of narcotics"; Hờ Y Cở was sentenced to 3 months and 14 days for "Failure to report a crime".

According to the Party Secretary of Huoi Thang village, Mr. Lau Ga Hua: To this day, the story of how former village head Lau Giong Long fell into drug trafficking and paid the ultimate price with his life is still considered by the Party branch and the village committee as a valuable lesson to remind the villagers about the importance of complying with and obeying the law.

We must resolutely fight against and strictly punish offenders.

In implementing Resolution No. 03-NQ/TU dated April 29, 2016, of the Standing Committee of the Nghe An Provincial Party Committee on strengthening drug prevention and control in the province during the 2016-2020 period, alongside the decisive involvement of functional forces in combating and preventing drug-related crimes and social evils in general, the management and education of cadres, Party members, civil servants, public employees, and union members within the political system have been given attention by Party committees, Party organizations, agencies, and local units.

The Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee established 4 inspection teams, and the Provincial Party Committee's Internal Affairs Department established 8 inspection teams to monitor the implementation of Directive 13-CT/TU and Resolution 03-NQ/TU on drug prevention and control in localities. The Provincial People's Committee also established 3 inspection teams to guide the implementation of various aspects of crime and social evil prevention and control, including the inspection of drug prevention and control work. The Provincial People's Council held a question-and-answer session on drug prevention and control at its 12th session…

Many agencies and units have developed and promulgated regulations on the management of officials and civil servants, and the building of a cultural life; they have organized for officials, civil servants, and employees to sign emulation agreements and commitments not to violate drug-related regulations.

During the period 2016-2020, a review revealed that 373 officials and Party members had relatives addicted to drugs, involved in crimes, or violating the law, and 248 cases involved relatives addicted to drugs (mainly among village and hamlet officials and Party members without official positions). In addition, throughout the province, 37 officials and Party members involved in the illegal possession, buying, selling, transporting, and use of narcotics were prosecuted, sentenced to prison, given warnings, or subjected to administrative penalties…

In addition to facing severe legal penalties, according to Article 31 of Regulation 102-QĐ/TW of 2017 on disciplinary action against violating Party members issued by the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam, cadres, civil servants, and public employees who are Party members and engage in the illegal production, storage, sale, transportation, or organization of the illegal use of narcotic substances will be expelled from the Party.

Party members who have the direct responsibility to combat social evils but who tolerate, cover up, abet, or fail to promptly handle drug users; who tolerate, harbor, or, due to irresponsibility, allow drug use to occur within their unit, agency, organization, or area of ​​direct management or responsibility; or who know but allow their parents, spouse, or children living in the same family to use, produce, store, buy, sell, or transport illegal drugs, shall be disciplined with a warning or dismissal from their position (if applicable).

The conference was held to gather feedback on the draft Law on Drug Prevention and Control (amended). (Photo: D.C.)

Currently, drug-related crimes are becoming increasingly complex, with sophisticated and audacious methods and tactics, requiring the involvement of the entire political system in the fight against them. In particular, cadres, civil servants, and public employees – those knowledgeable in the law – must set a good example by leading the way in disseminating information and implementing laws, avoiding becoming a "bad example" for the public in the fight against crime and social evils due to immediate temptations.