Improving the effectiveness of drug prevention and control efforts.

Strengthening the fight against drug crimes.

With the synchronized application of professional measures to prevent and combat drug crimes on key routes, many units and localities have recently dismantled numerous large drug trafficking rings and complex drug hotspots.

For example, on June 1, 2022, the Provincial Police and the Que Phong District Police jointly led the dismantling of Case 268H, catching Tho Ba Dung and Vu Ba Co, both residing in Tri Le commune, Que Phong district, red-handed for illegally transporting and selling narcotics. They seized 15 blocks of heroin, one K59 pistol, one spent cartridge, and seven bullets.

During the arrest, the two suspects acted very aggressively and recklessly, using military weapons to shoot and injure Captain Phan Linh Tam, an officer of the Que Phong District Police.

The scene of the raid that apprehended the two suspects, Tho Ba Dung and Vu Ba Co, and seized 15 blocks of heroin. Photo: Thuy Anh.

Subsequently, on June 2nd, the Vinh City Police cracked down on case 720S, dismantling a complex drug trafficking hub in Cua Nam ward, arresting two suspects: Dang Danh Sy, residing in Block 13, Cua Nam ward (the ringleader), and Chu Van Phuc, residing in Tan Giang ward, Ha Tinh city; seizing 2 blocks of heroin, 100 synthetic drug pills, 20g of ketamine, 1 car, and 5 mobile phones.

Dang Danh Sy, the drug kingpin in Block 13, Cua Nam Ward, Vinh City. (Photo: Duc Vu)

On June 25th, the PC04 Department of Dien Chau District Police, in coordination with the PA06 Department of Thanh Chuong District Police and Thanh Thuy Border Guard Post, successfully dismantled Special Case 922H, apprehending two suspects for the illegal trafficking of narcotics. They seized 1 kg of methamphetamine, 6000 ecstasy pills, one military-grade handgun, 10 bullets, one motorbike, and four mobile phones.rice.

On June 27, 2022, the Anti-Drug and Crime Prevention Department of the Nghe An Provincial Border Guard Command discovered and arrested three individuals (including two Lao students) for illegally buying and selling narcotics; seizing 18,000 methamphetamine tablets and one package of white powder suspected to be heroin.

During the Anti-Drug Action Month alone (from June 1st, 2022 to June 30th, 2022), functional forces in the province detected and arrested 327 cases involving 419 individuals for illegal buying, selling, storing, and transporting narcotics; seizing 2,950 grams of heroin; 131,024 grams of synthetic drugs; 48,862 synthetic drug pills; 11,300 grams of methamphetamine; 4.1 grams of cannabis and other related evidence. Compared to the same period in 2021, this represents an increase of 38 cases and 34 individuals.

In particular, the police forces of various units and localities have focused on combating and dismantling 2 drug hotspots, 8 complex drug areas, and 53 drug retail points, transforming and neutralizing 5 points. Some localities have performed well, such as: Dien Chau (dismantling 1 complex drug area and 11 retail points); Vinh City (1 hotspot, 3 areas, and 1 retail point); Quy Chau (11 retail points); Tuong Duong and Yen Thanh (each unit dismantled 6 retail points)... To date, the entire province has no drug hotspots or complex drug areas.

Besides launching campaigns to suppress crime, all levels, sectors, and localities also focus on drug prevention and control propaganda in many diverse and rich forms, concentrating on the local area.2Seven border communes are participating in the project to effectively build "Drug-Free Border Communes".

The Provincial Police Department alone has directed police units and localities to launch 31 community reintegration models in drug prevention and control; organized more than 100 meetings, enlisting influential individuals 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 all citizens to participate in crime prevention and control, linked with building and strengthening the grassroots political system and protecting border security...

Paying attention to drug rehabilitation and post-rehabilitation management.

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

During the Month of Action against Drug Abuse alone, districts, cities, and towns established 400 drug rehabilitation files and 245 community-based drug rehabilitation files for addicts in accordance with legal regulations.

Authorities are proceeding to unseal the seized drugs. (Photo: Duc Vu)

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

Currently managing 1,708 students (including 1,624 compulsory students and 84 voluntary students). In addition, 12 Treatment facilities, including 19 Methadone dispensing centers throughout the province, continue to implement opioid substitution therapy using Methadone; at the same time, opioid addiction substitution therapy using Buprenorphine is organized 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 dispensing Methadone for multiple days to patients being treated for opioid addiction in the province.

There are still many difficulties.

With its large geographical area, including 27 border communes, many of which are key areas with complex drug problems; a large number of drug addicts; and criminal activities related to drug hotspots and complex drug areas posing a high risk… Nghe An faces many difficulties in drug prevention and control.

Among these, there are some difficulties and obstacles related to drug rehabilitation work, namely: Decree No. 109/2According to Government Decree 021/ND-CP, which stipulates the conditions for medical facilities to determine drug addiction status and the procedures and processes for determining addiction status, drug rehabilitation facilities are not yet qualified to perform this task due to a lack of facilities with medical examination and treatment functions.

Administering detoxification injections to drug addicts addicted to synthetic drugs at the Vinh City Social Labor Center. (Photo: PV)

However, in practice, rehabilitation centers are very suitable for determining addiction status (they have sufficient facilities and personnel to monitor and manage addicts, while current medical facilities are largely overloaded, making it difficult to monitor and manage addicts, especially those who show resistance while waiting for addiction status to be determined)..Therefore, determining the current state of addiction in many localities remains a challenge.

In addition, Government Decree No. 116/2021/ND-CP, which details certain provisions of the Law on Drug Prevention and Control and the Law on Handling Administrative Violations regarding drug addiction treatment and post-treatment management, has specific regulations on community-based drug addiction treatment.

However, during the implementation process, there has been a lack of specific guidance from the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs, especially regarding the recognition of facilities that meet the requirements to provide voluntary addiction treatment services in families and communities.g.Currently, the entire province lacks facilities that provide voluntary addiction treatment services at home or in the community; therefore, organizing voluntary addiction treatment at home or in the community within the province is very difficult.

To further enhance the effectiveness of drug prevention and control in the coming period, the People's Committee of Nghe An province requests the Ministry of Public Security to coordinate with the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs to promptly issue specific guidelines on the implementation of voluntary drug rehabilitation at home and in the community, ensuring uniformity, appropriateness, and compliance with legal regulations. They also request the Government to promptly allocate funding for projects under the Drug Prevention and Control Program for the period 2021-2020.25. Facilitate the effective implementation of drug prevention and control work by units and localities.