Nghe An issues plan to effectively prevent drug smuggling across the border

Eliminate many lines, arrest many subjects

With the spirit of stepping up the fight against and suppressing all types of crimes, including drug crimes, in late 2022 and early 2023, many major projects were established by the authorities, thereby breaking up many drug rings and arresting many drug criminals, especially on the border.

Typically, at 5:35 p.m. on December 24, 2022, at landmark 404 on the Vietnamese side of Tien Tieu village, Nam Can commune, Ky Son district, the anti-crime force caught red-handed Pum Xom Ma Ni Vong (born in 1996), residing in Din Dam village, Noong Het Tay village cluster, Noong Het district, Xieng Khouang province (Laos), for illegally transporting drugs. The seized evidence included 4,000 pink synthetic drug pills.

Pum-xom-ma-ni-vong and 4,000 drug pills. Photo: Hai Thuong

Expanding the case, at 9:30 a.m. on January 25, 2023, in Pieng Cooc village, Mai Son commune, Tuong Duong district, the Drug and Crime Prevention and Control Force (Nghe An Border Guard) in coordination with Nhon Mai Border Guard Station, Muong Ai, Nam Can International Border Gate discovered and arrested Xong Tong Xo (born in 1991) and Xong Teng (born in 2002), both residing in Muong Quan district, Hua Phan province (Laos) for illegally transporting drugs.

The seized exhibits were 12kg of opium resin and 12,000 pink synthetic drug pills along with many related documents and exhibits.

Taking statements from foreigners transporting drugs into Vietnam who were arrested in Mai Son commune, Tuong Duong district. Photo: Hai Thuong

Most recently, at 7:45 p.m. on February 21, 2023, in Tien Tieu village, Nam Can commune, Ky Son district, the crime-fighting force (Nghe An Border Guard) discovered and caught red-handed two subjects Cho Gia (born in 1994), residing in Pa Lan village, and Chu Gia (born in 1996), residing in Xan Nhom village, both in Tham Thao village cluster, Noong Het district, Xieng Khouang province (Laos), illegally transporting drugs. The seized evidence included 54,000 pink synthetic drug pills, the process of organizing and implementing the crime-solving process ensured absolute safety for people and weapons.

Through quick investigation, the two subjects confessed that they were hired by a man with unknown name and age residing in Noong Het district, Xieng Khouang province (Laos) to transport the above drugs across the border to Vietnam for a salary of 5 million Lao kip per person (equivalent to about 20 million Vietnamese Dong).

Laotians Cho Gia and Chu Gia were caught red-handed by Vietnamese authorities transporting 54,000 synthetic drug pills. Photo: Hai Thuong

In January 2023 alone, functional forces in the province discovered and arrested 137 cases, 180 drug criminals, seized 1.2 kg of heroin, 0.2 kg and 22,705 synthetic drug pills, and 12 kg of opium resin.

Do not let Nghe An become a drug transit area

In order to effectively prevent drug smuggling across the border and prevent Nghe An from becoming a drug transit area for the whole country, on February 23, the Provincial People's Committee issued Plan 105/KH-UBND to implement drug prevention and control work in 2023.

In which it is required: Improve the effectiveness of consulting, directing, synchronously and drastically implementing PCMT solutions. The process of implementing PCMT work must be associated with aspects of crime prevention and control in general and integrated with local socio-economic development programs to maximize the effectiveness of this work.

The subjects were arrested by the Nghe An Border Guard force with evidence of 12kg of opium and 12,000 drug pills. Photo: Hai Thuong

The Provincial People's Committee also requested the police force to focus on performing well the basic professional tasks in 5 areas, strengthen the management of subjects related to drugs; effectively implement the work of transforming key and complicated drug areas; solutions to maintain the number of communes, wards and towns without drugs; reduce the number of communes, wards and towns with drugs and key drug areas.

The Steering Committees at all levels also directed relevant forces to proactively do a good job of grasping, analyzing, forecasting and correctly assessing the drug crime situation, especially in border areas, border gates, at sea, and on key routes; absolutely "not to be passive or surprised in any situation".;Improve the effectiveness of coordination in the fight against drugs between specialized forces from the province to the grassroots level.

Main forces such as: Provincial Police, Provincial Border Guard, Provincial Customs Department... mobilize forces and means, synchronously and effectively deploy solutions to effectively combat crimes and drug abuse in the area; prevent drug smuggling across the border; produce, prepare, organize the illegal use of synthetic drugs, replant plants containing narcotics; eradicate drug-related criminals, gangs, and networks...

Evidence of 12kg of opium resin. Photo: Hai Thuong

In addition, Nghe An is the province with the largest area in the country with a border line accounting for nearly 1/4 of the total length of the Vietnam - Laos border, bordering 3 provinces of Xieng Khouang, Hua Phan and Bolikhamxay (Lao PDR). The border line has 5 border gates.(including Nam Can International Border Gate, Thanh Thuy National Border Gate and 3 sub-border gates: Cao Veu, Tam Hop, Thong Thu)Connected with 3 key national highways and hundreds of trails and openings across the border, it is very difficult to manage, patrol and control.

On the other hand, with its geographical location near the “Golden Triangle” - the drug mecca of Southeast Asia, the terrain is mainly rugged mountains and forests, making the border area of ​​Nghe An province a favorable location for drug criminals to operate. Through monitoring, over 80% of the amount of drugs seized in the province originated from smuggling across the Vietnam - Laos border.

Provincial Police leaders directly directed the process of attacking drug dens in Que Phong district. Photo: Vuong Linh

Therefore, in Plan No. 105/KH-UBND dated February 23, 2023, the People's Committee of Nghe An province requested functional branches and border localities to promote effective and substantive cooperation in drug prevention and control with functional forces and border provinces of Laos according to the "3-level" model from province to grassroots level. Effectively implement programs, agreements, and memorandums of understanding; especially the Memorandum of Understanding on drug prevention and control cooperation with the Lao Ministry of Public Security.

Coordinate the organization of the 2023 Drug Prevention and Control Conference in 8 Vietnam - Laos border provinces. Improve the effectiveness of information exchange activities, establish joint projects, coordinate the implementation of professional measures, fight to eradicate transnational drug crime rings, drug gathering points along the border and wanted criminals hiding in Laos.

At the same time, coordinate to verify and arrest active drug criminals and wanted criminals hiding in each country to proactively prevent drug crimes early and from afar.

Tri Le Commune Police, Que Phong District, coordinated with Tri Le Border Guard Station to promote drug prevention. Photo: Duc Vu

Regarding information and propaganda work, the People's Committee of Nghe An province requires all levels, sectors and localities to diversify content and forms and promote the application of 4.0 technology in propaganda work; focusing on key and complicated areas and locations regarding drugs, the highest risk groups being youth, teenagers, pupils and students.

Continue to build and replicate advanced models and examples of PCMT in new conditions and situations; Coordinate well in drug addiction treatment at home and in the community, support reintegration into the community for drug addicts after treatment.

"Heads of departments, branches, sectors and localities must be responsible for the drug situation in the locality, agency and unit assigned to them," the document of the Provincial People's Committee also emphasized./.