Spring Day listening to drug police tell stories about fighting crimes

A new spring has come, for the police force in general and the Drug Crime Prevention Police force in particular, there is never a time for them to rest in the true sense. When a project ends, a new project also begins.

After many years of working in the drug investigation field, Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Thai Hoa - Captain of the Drug Police Department still cannot forget the case near Tet 2018. That was January 30, 2018, the investigation vehicle carrying anti-drug detectives followed National Highway 7, up to Tuong Duong district, looking at the peach blossoms starting to bloom on both sides of the road, at that time the people in the vehicle suddenly remembered that it was almost Tet.

Drug cases often take place in deep forests. Photo: Duc Vu

One day later, Project 218S was successfully discovered by the Drug Police Department of Nghe An Province in Luu Kien Commune, Tuong Duong District, arresting 2 suspects, seizing 20 heroin cakes, 5kg of crystal meth, 1 motorbike, and 1 knife. After successfully discovering this project, the investigators joked, "We have cakes to bring home for Tet."

To have successful drug raids, the detectives of the Drug Police Department had to go through difficult, overnight trips in the forest. Drug dealers often stay deep in the forest, transacting drugs in remote and dangerous mountains, ready to use guns to fight back and escape.

Having participated in almost all major drug cases, Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Que Thai - Department of Drug Crime Investigation Police said that while it is difficult to establish a fight against a drug case in the delta region, fighting a drug case in the deep forest is many times more difficult. No matter how detailed and specific the plan is, there are still many unexpected situations that can arise.

Drug detectives have to lie in wait in the deep forest, eating quickly to catch drug dealers. Photo: Duc Vu

“Many nights marching in the deep forest, the scouts only used the phone screen to find their way. At times like that, the scouts had to limit noise, even the small cough of their teammates. Because just one loud noise could cancel the entire plan to fight the case,” Lieutenant Colonel Thai said.

Project 918C, discovered at the end of October 2018, left the most impression on Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Que Thai. Before the project was discovered, he and a few teammates in the unit had to go to Yen Na commune, Tuong Duong district to grasp the situation. After 3 months of undercover here, the scouts discovered a drug trafficking and buying spot taking place deep in the forest of Xop Pu village, Yen Na commune.

The leader was a Mong ethnic person, accompanied by several people equipped with AK guns and grenades for protection and surveillance. The Mong ethnic group's characteristic is that they mainly live in deep forests, so it is not easy to grasp the situation. Because the Mong people are very quick and sensitive, in the deep forest, just a few dozen meters away, they can feel that there are strangers ahead.

However, with professional measures and experience in solving crimes, the detectives have a firm grasp of the rules of operation of these subjects. At 0:00 on October 26, 2018, Task Force 918C began to fight the case. It took more than 1 hour of walking into the forest for the working groups to reach the assembly point.

Lau Ba Cha (right) and Lau Ba Vu with 20 heroin cakes. Photo: Trong Tuan

In the dark, when the Mong people carrying drugs and weapons appeared, the task force tightened the siege. Hearing the voices, they fired fiercely in return, the night was "torn apart" by the gunshots of the police force attacking and chasing them away.

After the gunfight, the drug criminals fought back weakly and quickly escaped into the deep forest. One subject was killed on the spot along with an AK gun, 18 bullets, 2 grenades, 3 heroin cakes and 12 thousand synthetic drug pills. The safety of all the brothers who fought the case was guaranteed.

As for Major Nguyen Manh Truong - Deputy Head of the Drug Police Department, Project 818L was discovered at 1:00 a.m. on September 7, 2018, eliminating the illegal trafficking ring of 10 heroin cakes and 1 kg of crystal meth, and arresting Nhia Ly Vang, which also left him with many unforgettable "memories".

The area where the case was solved was the top of Bu Bai slope, Chau Hoan commune, Quy Chau district, surrounded by rugged mountains and forests. The process of stopping the car and capturing Nhia Ly Vang (Lao nationality) and a Mong subject also encountered many difficulties. Due to the darkness, the mountainous terrain, and winding terrain, the Mong subject at this time was like a panicked "black cat" and quickly escaped.

The drug war in Nghe An province is still fierce. Photo: Trong Tuan

Talking about the difficulties in investigating this case, Major Nguyen Manh Truong said that on the night of September 6, due to the rain the night before, the mountainous area here was very muddy and slippery, many scouts fell, scratched their legs, and sprained their ankles while marching.

From night to dawn, the brothers ate dry rations and kept track of the situation, ignoring the fog that covered their heads. At that time, all difficulties and hardships were put aside, just to focus on how to successfully solve the case.

Despite the difficulties and dangers, the anti-drug reconnaissance soldiers have never faltered. They know that the fight against drug crimes is still a long-term one, full of difficulties and challenges. Their happiness is not in the certificates of merit and rewards from their superiors, but in the reduction of drug crimes, so that every spring, each family can reduce the suffering and loss caused by drug crimes.

In 2018, Nghe An Provincial Police discovered and arrested 1,159 cases, 1,433 drug-related criminals, seized 170 heroin cakes, 14kg of synthetic drugs, 87.5kg of crystal meth; of which, 50 major drug cases were broken.

The Drug Police Department alone arrested 29 cases, 62 subjects, broke 25 drug cases, arrested 55 subjects, and eliminated 7 drug trafficking lines from Laos to Nghe An for consumption. More than 92 heroin cakes (32.9 kg), 33.3 kg of crystal meth, and more than 47 thousand synthetic drug pills were seized.