Improve the effectiveness of drug prevention and control work

Strengthening the fight against drug crimes

With the synchronous application of professional measures to prevent and combat drug crimes on key routes, recently, many units and localities have eradicated many major drug crime rings and complex drug hotspots.

Typical On June 1, 2022, the Provincial Police and Que Phong District Police co-chaired the investigation of Project 268H, arresting Tho Ba Dung and Vu Ba Co, both residing in Tri Le Commune, Que Phong District, for illegally transporting and trading drugs, seizing 15 heroin cakes, 01 K59 gun, 01 bullet shell and 07 bullets.

During the arrest, the two subjects were very reckless and reckless, using military guns to shoot and injure Captain Phan Linh Tam - a police officer of Que Phong district.

Scene of the arrest of Tho Ba Dung and Vu Ba Co, 15 heroin bricks seized. Photo: Thuy Anh.

Then, on June 2, Vinh City Police broke up Project 720S, eliminated a complex drug den in Cua Nam Ward, arrested 2 subjects: Dang Danh Sy, residing in Block 13, Cua Nam Ward (the ringleader) and Chu Van Phuc, residing in Tan Giang Ward, Ha Tinh City; seized 2 heroin cakes, 100 synthetic drug pills, 20g of ketamine, 1 car and 5 cell phones.

Drug lord in block 13, Cua Nam ward, Vinh city Dang Danh Sy. Photo: Duc Vu

On June 25, PC04 Department, Dien Chau District Police co-chaired and coordinated with PA06 Department, Thanh Chuong District Police, Thanh Thuy Border Guard Station to break up Project 922H, caught 2 subjects in the act of illegal drug trafficking; seized 1 kg of crystal meth, 6,000 MTTH pills, 1 military pistol, 10 bullets, 1 motorbike, 4 mobile phones.g.

On June 27, 2022, the Drug and Crime Prevention Department, Nghe An Provincial Border Guard Command discovered and arrested 03 subjects (including 02 subjects who are Laotian students) for illegal drug trafficking; seized 18,000 MTTH pills and 01 package of white powder suspected to be heroin.

During the Drug Prevention and Control Action Month alone (from June 1, 2022 to June 30, 2022), functional forces in the province discovered and arrested 327 cases, 419 subjects illegally buying, storing, and transporting drugs; seized 2,950 grams of heroin; 131,024 grams of synthetic drugs (MTTH); 48,862 MTTH pills; 11,300 grams of crystal meth; 4.1 grams of marijuana and some other related evidence. Compared to the same period in 2021, there was an increase of 38 cases, 34 subjects.

In particular, the police of various units and localities have focused on fighting and eliminating 2 drug hotspots, 8 complex locations, 53 drug retail locations, transforming and neutralizing 5 locations. Some localities have done well, such as: Dien Chau eliminated 1 complex location, 11 retail locations; Vinh City 1 hotspot, 3 locations, 1 retail location; Quy Chau 11 retail locations; Tuong Duong, Yen Thanh (each unit eliminated 6 retail locations)... Up to now, the whole province has no drug hotspots or complex locations.

In addition to the campaigns to suppress crime, all levels, sectors and localities also focus on drug prevention and control propaganda in many diverse and rich forms, focusing on the local area.27 border communes, to effectively implement the Project to build "Border communes free of drugs".

The Provincial Police Department has directed the Police Departments of units and localities to launch 31 models of community reintegration in drug prevention and control; organize more than 100 meetings, and enlist prestigious people to participate in drug prevention and control. The Provincial Border Guard continues to direct the expansion of the "Crime Reporting Mailbox" model, thereby launching a movement for the entire population to participate in crime prevention and control, associated with building and consolidating the grassroots political system, and protecting border security...

Attention to drug addiction treatment and post-treatment management

Implementing the direction of the Provincial People's Committee, the People's Committees of districts, cities and towns have paid attention to community reintegration and post-rehabilitation management, providing counseling for addicts who have completed rehabilitation programs, helping them find jobs, stabilize their lives, and prevent relapse.

During the Drug Prevention and Control Action Month alone, districts, cities and towns established 400 drug rehabilitation records and 245 community drug rehabilitation records for addicts in accordance with legal regulations.

Authorities unsealed the seized drugs. Photo: Duc Vu

As of June 30, 2022, drug rehabilitation facilities in the province have received and managed 1,016 new students (including 836 compulsory students and 180 voluntary students), and reintegrated 714 students into the community. In June 2022 alone, the facilities received 183 new students (including 150 compulsory students and 33 voluntary students).

Currently managing 1,708 students (including 1,624 compulsory students and 84 voluntary students. In addition, 12 Treatment facilities, 19 Methadone dispensing facilities across the province continue to implement the method of treatment to replace opioids with Methadone; at the same time, organize substitution treatment for opioid addiction with Buprenorphine at 5 facilities (integrated with Methadone treatment facilities).

Currently, the Provincial People's Committee is also directing the Department of Health to advise on the pilot implementation of providing multi-day Methadone for patients being treated for opioid addiction in the province.

There are many difficulties

As a large area with 27 border communes, many of which are key communes with complex drug problems; a large number of drug addicts; criminal activities related to complex drug hotspots and locations with high potential risks... Nghe An faces many difficulties in drug prevention and control work.

Among them, there are some difficulties and problems related to drug rehabilitation work, namely: Decree No. 109/2021/ND-CP of the Government stipulates that medical facilities are qualified to determine drug addiction status and the records, procedures, and order of determining addiction status. However, facilities with the function of drug rehabilitation are not qualified to determine addiction status due to lack of facilities with the function of medical examination and treatment.

Injection of detoxification drugs for synthetic drug addicts at Vinh City Labor and Social Affairs Center. Photo: PV

But in practice, drug rehabilitation facilities are very suitable for determining addiction status (sufficient facilities and human resources to monitor and manage addicts, while current medical facilities are mostly overloaded, making monitoring and managing addicts, especially those who show signs of resistance while waiting for addiction status determination, very difficult)..Therefore, determining the current addiction status in many localities is still difficult.

In addition, Decree No. 116/2021/ND-CP of the Government detailing a number of articles of the Law on Drug Prevention and Control, the Law on Handling of Administrative Violations on Drug Addiction Treatment and Post-Detoxification Management has specific provisions on community drug addiction treatment.

However, during the implementation process, there have been no specific guidelines from the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs, especially in recognizing facilities that are qualified to provide voluntary drug addiction treatment services at home and in the community.g.Currently, the whole province has no facility providing voluntary drug addiction treatment services at home or in the community, so organizing voluntary drug addiction treatment at home or in the community in the province is very difficult.

To continue to improve the effectiveness of drug prevention and control in the coming time, the People's Committee of Nghe An province recommends that the Ministry of Public Security coordinate with the Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs to soon issue specific guidance documents on the implementation of voluntary drug addiction treatment at home and in the community to ensure consistency, suitability and compliance with legal regulations. Promptly advise the Government to allocate funding to implement projects under the Drug Prevention and Control Program for the period 2021 - 2020.25, create favorable conditions for units and localities to effectively implement drug prevention and control work.