Preventing the risk of illegal use and trade of 'hot' weapons in Nghe An

Strictly handle violations of trading and use of weapons and explosives

In June 2022, among the incidents and cases related to security and order in the province, there were signs of an increase in the use of illegal drugs by related subjects.hot weaponsto fight back against the authorities, especially in drug crime investigation projects.

Within just one month, the authorities seized more than 20 guns of various types from 227 cases, 287 subjects were arrested for illegal drug trafficking and possession. In addition, the Police, Border Guard, Customs... also discovered and handled many violations of weapons storage and trafficking,explosives.

A subject in Na Ngoi commune (Ky Son) used a weapon to fight back and was arrested by the authorities along with the evidence. Photo courtesy of Hong Ngoc

For example, on June 15, Nghi Loc District Police temporarily detained 4 suspects for investigation and handling of the act of illegally buying, selling, and transporting 145 kg of fireworks, including: Pham Van Tam (born in 1990), residing in Nghi Tan Ward, Cua Lo Town; Phan Trong Hien (born in 1982), residing in Hung Trung Commune, Hung Nguyen District; Thai Ba Duy (born in 1994) and Nguyen Van Do (born in 1982), both residing in Dien Bich Commune, Dien Chau District.

Previously, on June 1, Cao Hong Thanh (born in 1990), in Bac Chien Thang hamlet and Dang Xuan Toi (born in 1989), in Hai Nam hamlet, Dien Bich commune were arrested by Dien Chau district police for illegally buying and selling drugs and carrying firearms. In addition to the seized evidence of dozens of small packages of heroin with a total weight of 5.9 grams and 18 synthetic drug pills, when searching Dang Xuan Toi's residence, the police force also discovered a gun.military gunsand 14 bullets.

Drug traffickers carrying weapons and explosives always pose a risk of causing injury and endangering the lives of law enforcement officers and related individuals when these subjects fight back and use weapons. A typical example is the incident that occurred in Que Phong district on May 30, 2022, in which a police officer was shot while surrounding and arresting a drug trafficker, who fought back with a gun.

Evidence seized at the scene of the arrest of a drug trafficker who used a gun to seriously injure a Que Phong police officer. Photo courtesy of Hong Ngoc

In just 2 months (May and June 2022), in the province, there were 5 cases of criminals and law violators using "hot" weapons to fight back against the authorities when discovered and arrested. In addition, the authorities also discovered and handled dozens of cases related to the trading, storage and use of explosives such as guns, fireworks, etc.

In 2021, functional forces in the province prosecuted 14 cases, 16 defendants for the crime of "Illegal storage, use, purchase, sale, and transportation of weapons and explosives"; of which, 1,047 cases of violations of storage and trade of firecrackers were handled, confiscating 5.9 tons of various types of firecrackers.

In the first quarter of 2022, the police and border guards at all levels coordinated to detect, arrest, and handle 44 cases, 56 criminals, seized 10.5 kg of heroin, 112,368 synthetic drug pills, 10 kg of crystal meth, 153 kg of firecrackers, and many other dangerous exhibits such as guns, knives, and swords of all kinds.

Focus on propaganda and mobilization

One of the solutions to thoroughly prevent violations of the law related to the trading, storage and use of weapons and explosives is to mobilize people to voluntarily hand over their vehicles and materials that are not allowed to be used. For example, from May 29 to June 3, units of the Nghe An Provincial Border Guard coordinated with local authorities and functional forces stationed in the area such as the Police and judicial officers to organize propaganda and mobilize people to hand over 50 homemade guns and 8 electric shockers.

The Provincial Police Director and his delegation visited the police officer who was shot and injured by a drug dealer while fighting a case. Photo courtesy of Vuong Linh

In particular, in Tri Le commune, Que Phong district, people handed over 14 flintlock guns, 11 alcohol guns; people in Thong Thu commune handed over 9 homemade guns, 8 electric shockers, 2 batteries and some other support tools... In the first 6 months of 2022, the Border Guard unit coordinated with the locality to mobilize 88 people to hand over weapons, recovered 105 homemade guns, 7 gun barrels. In Anh Son district, on May 26, the district police organized the destruction of 250 homemade guns, 44 rudimentary weapons of various types, 1 electric baton. These are the number of weapons, explosives and support tools recovered through campaigns to mobilize people to hand over in 2021.

Not only in Nghe An, the crime of using hot weapons to fight against the authorities, or trading and transporting weapons and explosives also occurs in many localities across the country. Therefore, the Ministry of Public Security requires the local police force to continue to step up consultation with local Party committees and authorities to direct agencies, departments, branches, unions, political and social organizations, coordinate with functional forces to propagate and mobilize people to strictly comply with the provisions of the law to thoroughly recover weapons, explosives and supporting tools remaining in society. Organize screening and make a list of subjects with criminal records, suspected of illegally storing and using weapons, explosives and supporting tools to have measures to propagate, mobilize and fight and handle.

Anh Son District Police mobilized people to voluntarily hand over 250 guns of various types. Photo courtesy of Thai Hien

Strengthen the work of grasping the situation and conflicts within the people to promptly detect and have plans to handle cases, not allowing conflicts to accumulate and prolong, not allowing crimes to arise, including crimes involving the use of weapons, explosives, and supporting tools to commit crimes. At the same time, do a good job of receiving reports, denouncing crimes, and recommending prosecutions related to weapons, explosives, and supporting tools. For cases involving weapons, explosives, and supporting tools, it is necessary to focus on investigating, clarifying, and tracing the origin of weapons, explosives, and supporting tools to strictly handle the subjects.