Nghe An has a land border of 468.281km, bordering the three provinces of Hua Phan, Xieng Khouang, and Bolikhamxay (Laos). The province has Nam Can International Border Gate, Thanh Thuy National Border Gate, three secondary border gates (Thong Thu, Tam Hop, Cao Veu) and many trails and openings.
Taking advantage of the rugged mountainous border terrain, criminals in the country and abroad colluded with each other to form many drug trafficking lines from Laos to gather in border villages, waiting for the opportunity to smuggle drugs into Vietnam. Then, they transported them to provinces and cities in the country for consumption. During their operations, the subjects thoroughly took advantage of family, ethnic, clan relationships, limited legal awareness and greed for material gain to hire people in the area who were familiar with the terrain to transport drugs across the border. Faced with the existing danger, Nghe An Border Guard coordinated with functional forces to deploy many uncompromising solutions to fight drug crimes. Many criminal lines and gangs were eliminated.
Typically, at 9:30 a.m. on January 25, 2023, in Pieng Cooc village, Mai Son commune (Tuong Duong), the anti-crime force arrested two subjects, Xong Tong Xo and Xong Tenh, both residing in Pha Danh village, Muong Quan district, Hua Phan province (Laos); confiscated 12 kg of opium resin and 12,000 pink-shaped MTTH pills. Then, at 7:45 p.m. on February 21, 2023, in Tien Tieu village, Nam Can commune (Ky Son), the anti-crime force caught two subjects, Cho Gia and Chu Gia, both residing in Xan Nhom village, Tham Thao village cluster, Noong Het district, Xieng Khouang province (Laos), in the act of illegally transporting drugs. The seized evidence included 54,000 pink-shaped MTTH pills.
At about 5:15 a.m. on June 26, 2023, at Pha Khom village, Tri Le commune, Que Phong district, the investigation force continued to discover and arrest Tho Cong Minh, residing in Pha Khom village, Tri Le commune (Que Phong), for illegally buying and selling drugs. The seized evidence included 4,000 pink MTTH pills.
Although the subjects' methods of operation were extremely sophisticated, cunning and reckless, ready to use hot weapons to fiercely fight back against the authorities when discovered, the process of organizing and implementing the crime solving process absolutely ensured the safety of people and weapons.
In addition to drug crimes, taking advantage of economic difficulties and the lack of knowledge of people in border areas, human trafficking criminals often deceive and lure gullible women to sell them abroad with many sophisticated methods and tricks. Therefore, along with promoting propaganda and dissemination of the law in both Vietnamese and ethnic languages, the Border Guard Stations along the land border have coordinated with functional forces to establish many special projects to combat human trafficking crimes. Typically, in December 2023, the Department of Drug and Crime Prevention (PCMT&TP), Nghe An Border Guard coordinated with the Northern PCMT&TP Special Task Force (PCMT&TP Department) and My Ly Border Guard Station to arrest 03 subjects: Vi Thi Vien residing in Luu Kien commune (Tuong Duong), temporarily residing in Van Dau ward, Kien An district, Hai Phong city; Kha Van Ngoc, residing in Lang Khe commune (Con Cuong), and Lo Thi Thuyen, residing in My Ly commune (Ky Son), committed human trafficking. The victim was Ms. Hung Thi U., residing in Xop Tu village, My Ly commune, Ky Son district.
Border areas are mainly inhabited by ethnic minorities with low education levels and difficult economic lives, posing a potential risk of human trafficking crimes arising and becoming more complex. Through the work of grasping the situation, there are still many women and girls missing for unknown reasons, suspected of being trafficked. On the other hand, some victims, after being rescued or returning on their own, have an inferiority complex, so they do not dare to report the crime. Human trafficking criminals mainly live abroad and operate very sophisticatedly, with close collusion between domestic subjects in many different areas, so the work of investigation, verification, combat and handling is facing many difficulties.
In addition, there is currently a trick of tricking people to go to Laos and Cambodia to work with high salaries, the work is not hard, only requires knowing how to use and sit at a computer. Then, they draft a contract and force the workers to work in special zones owned by Chinese people, forcing the victims to work long hours or forcing the victims to contact their families to demand ransom with a large amount of money from 200 million to 300 million VND.
Therefore, propaganda work needs to be carried out regularly and continuously. In addition, local authorities and functional forces need to replicate livelihood models, promote vocational training, create jobs, support victims to reintegrate into the community, etc., contributing to stabilizing life, stabilizing income, reducing the risk of human trafficking.
To prevent crimes and illegal activities, including smuggling, trade fraud, and illegal transportation of goods in border areas, border guards have increased inspection and control of trails, openings, and entry and exit activities at border gates. Thereby, they promptly detect and prevent illegal transportation of fireworks, currency, forest products, minerals, and trading of livestock (buffalo, cows) across the border.
Typically, at 10:15 p.m. on March 15, at the Heaven Gate area of Tien Tieu village, Nam Can commune (Ky Son), the working group of the Nam Can International Border Gate Border Guard Station coordinated with the Ky Son District Police and the Nam Can International Border Gate Customs Branch to discover Mr. Nguyen Hung Son residing in Nghia Hop commune, Tan Ky district transporting 17 live cows without import and quarantine papers as prescribed. Through investigation and verification: Around the beginning of March 2024, Nguyen Hung Son left the country for Laos to buy 17 dairy cows (culled) and contacted and negotiated with a subject to transport them by unofficial route across the border at a cost of 1,000,000 kip (Lao)/cow. On March 15, Mr. Son hired a truck from a Laotian to transport 17 cows he had purchased to Din Dam village, Noong Het Tay village cluster, Noong Het district, Xieng Khouang province and hired a Laotian to lead them along a trail across the border to Vietnam. When he arrived at the above location, he was arrested by the authorities.
A number of cases related to illegal entry and exit activities in the border area were also detected and handled promptly. Typically, on March 23, 2024, in the area of National Highway 16 in Na Nieng village, Tri Le commune (Que Phong), Tri Le Border Guard Station, Drug and Crime Prevention Department (Nghe An Border Guard) presided over and coordinated with Que Phong District Police and Tri Le Commune Police to discover 10 people carrying many household items intending to go to the southern provinces to do business, showing suspicious signs. Of which, 08 people had Lao nationality (4 adults and 4 children), without any identification papers or entry and exit papers. Through investigation and verification, Xong Ba Tong, residing in Muong Long village, Tri Le commune, was the one who organized for Lao citizens to stay in Vietnam illegally to make illegal profits at the price of 1.5 million VND per adult.
Currently, Tri Le Border Guard Station has initiated criminal proceedings according to the law and continues to expand the investigation and fight against related subjects.
According to the general assessment, due to its proximity to the "Golden Triangle" area with a large amount of drugs produced and processed, and due to the super profits from drugs, drug crime activities in the western border area of the province are still complicated. Drug trafficking activities often take place in areas with rugged mountainous terrain and single roads, making it difficult for functional forces to organize and implement projects and cases. In addition, illegal exploitation of forest products, illegal entry and exit, violations of border regulations, violations of firecrackers, use of explosives, electric shock fishing on border rivers and streams, etc. still occur.
At the Conference on experience sharing in the fight against drugs and crimes in the land border area held on March 23, 2024, Colonel Duong Hong Hai - Deputy Commander of Nghe An Border Guard requested the subordinate units to proactively do well in all aspects of work; synchronously use professional measures to grasp the situation of criminal activities; focus on inspecting and strictly controlling border areas, border gates, trails, and openings; fight, prevent, and destroy criminal networks and gangs. Do a good job of propaganda and mobilization of people in the border area not to participate in illegal activities or cover up or assist criminals; actively denounce criminals. At the same time, promote coordination with functional forces, local authorities, and border protection forces of Laos to improve the effectiveness of fighting, preventing, and combating all types of crimes, ensuring security and order in the border area.
