Improve the effectiveness of the fight against drugs

General To Lam, Politburo member and Minister of Public Security chaired the conference. At Nghe An bridge, there were comrades of the Provincial Party Standing Committee: Le Hong Vinh, Permanent Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee; Major General Pham The Tung, Director of the Provincial Police Department co-chaired.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh gave a speech at the Conference.

More and more types of drugs appear

According to the report at the conference: Drugs are mainly bought, sold and illegally transported from abroad into Vietnam through small-scale border routes and then transported inland for consumption, with images of 4 key routes: Northwest route, Northeast route, North Central - Central Highlands route, Southwest route.

Recently, more and more new types of drugs have appeared under the guise of beverage products, disguised as food, and new-generation cigarettes. The use of synthetic drugs among teenagers has increased rapidly, especially the purchase and use of "laughing gas", along with drugs laced in food, drinks and electronic cigarettes, which have become increasingly complicated, causing social disorder, anxiety and frustration among the people.

General To Lam - Minister of Public Security speaking at the Conference. Photo: Minh Khoi

Meanwhile, the situation of buying, storing, organizing, harboring, and enticing others to use illegal drugs continues to develop in a complicated manner. The situation of illegal drug users and drug addicts in society, not being monitored and managed, has caused many criminal offenses, in which the most notable is the number of "stoned" subjects with mental disorders, losing control of their behavior, causing murder, intentional injury, traffic accidents... especially serious, killing and injuring many people.

Outstanding results

Reporting at the conference, Lieutenant General Nguyen Duy Ngoc, member of the Party Central Committee, Deputy Minister of Public Security, emphasized that with the attention and synchronous direction from the Government to ministries, branches and localities, the work of drug prevention and control in 2022 has achieved outstanding results, specifically: The Ministry of Public Security directed the national drug crime investigation police force to preside over and coordinate with functional forces to detect and handle 26,119 cases, 40,113 drug criminals (0.27% fewer cases, 4.88% more subjects than in 2021); seized more than 743 kg of heroin; more than 2,100 kg and 4 million MTTH pills; 467 kg of marijuana, along with many related evidences; eliminated 763 points, 72 complex drug hotspots; Fighting against criminals taking advantage of business establishments with security and order conditions and sensitive services 1,810 cases.

As of February 2023, the total number of illegal drug users nationwide is 48,203 people, 191,410 drug addicts. In 2022, 17,285 files were established nationwide to send drug addicts to compulsory drug rehabilitation facilities. Post-rehabilitation management is implemented by 100% of localities with 24,558 people currently being managed in the community. Community reintegration and post-rehabilitation management have received attention from many localities, creating favorable conditions for support, helping to find jobs, borrow capital for production, stabilize life, prevent and combat relapse... Along with that, Deputy Minister Nguyen Duy Ngoc also pointed out the existing problems, difficulties, obstacles and proposed measures for ministries, branches and localities to effectively implement and deploy the Law on Drug Prevention and Control...

In Nghe An, the Provincial Police have advised the Party Committee and the Government on many measures and solutions to fight and prevent drug crimes early and from afar, thoroughly following the motto of "not attacking the middle, arresting the whole network, especially the ringleaders". Notably, the Provincial Police have proactively issued and resolutely and effectively implemented the Project to build "Border communes clean of drugs", in which the goal of "cleaning drug addicts" is identified as the core factor to move towards the strategic goal: "cleaning" drugs in 27 border communes, establishing a "border belt" free of drugs.

With good and creative ways of doing things, after nearly 01 year of implementation, Nghe An Police have basically completed the goal of "cleaning drug addicts" in 26/27 border communes, which has been recognized, highly appreciated and directed to be replicated nationwide by the leaders of the Ministry of Public Security. Currently, the Project has spread and been replicated in 21/21 districts, cities and towns in the province with 171 communes registered to build "clean drugs", 08 districts registered to build "clean drug districts" in 2023.

Fight against drugs early and from afar

Speaking at the meeting to direct, orient and assign specific tasks to ministries, branches and localities on drug prevention and control in the coming time, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh agreed that drug prevention, control and control must always be under the direct leadership and direction of Party committees at all levels, the management and administration of the Government, the Ministry of Public Security, and authorities at all levels, in which the Public Security force is the core, supported and accompanied by the masses, with close coordination between relevant forces and international cooperation.

The Prime Minister reminded ministries, branches, local agencies, party committees, and government systems, especially at the grassroots level, to base on their functions, powers, and tasks to organize, lead, direct, and fight against drugs early and remotely at the grassroots level, communes, wards, and towns. Continue to review, amend, supplement, and perfect the system of relevant legal documents, creating a complete and synchronous legal basis for drug prevention, control, and control; urgently perfect organizations according to regulations, especially the Steering Committee for AIDS, drug, and prostitution prevention and control at all levels; strengthen international cooperation, especially with countries sharing borders and countries with economic potential and experience in drug prevention and control.

The Prime Minister requested the Ministry of Public Security to perform well its function as the standing agency for drug prevention and control; focus on fighting and eliminating complicated drug establishments, points and hotspots; strengthen coordination with relevant agencies to strictly manage illegal drug users, preventing them from becoming addicts and committing illegal acts.

The Prime Minister hopes and believes that, with the glorious heroic tradition of "Forgetting oneself for the country, serving the people", the Public Security Forces will continue to promote their leading and core role, together with other ministries, branches and forces, to strive to achieve more outstanding achievements in the fight against, combat and control of drugs, contributing to ensuring security and order, protecting the peaceful, healthy and happy life of the people, building a strong, prosperous and sustainably developed Vietnam.

The Prime Minister welcomed and agreed with the proposal of the Ministry of Public Security to develop a project to improve the capacity to combat and prevent drugs for implementation nationwide.