Nghe An: Detected and arrested 632 cases, 888 subjects buying, selling, storing, and transporting drugs

Solved many cases, uncovered many networks

Implementing the directives of the Provincial Party Committee and the Provincial People's Committee, especially Official Dispatch No. 3354/UBND-NC of the People's Committee of Nghe An province on strengthening the work of preventing, combating, and fighting to "clean up" drugs in the border communes in the province, in the first 6 months of 2022, the functional forces simultaneously launched operations to dismantle many major drug crime rings, associated with the raids and eradication of many small drug points and complex drug hotspots.

Authorities unsealed evidence of a drug case. Photo: Duc Vu

Typically, on January 4, 2022, PC04 Department (Provincial Police), Anh Son District Police co-chaired and coordinated with Do Luong District Police, Phuc Son Border Guard Station (Anh Son), Nam Can International Border Gate Customs Branch to destroy Project 989T to fight and eradicate a drug trafficking and transportation ring from Laos to Nghe An for consumption, arresting 3 subjects, and seizing 4 kg of crystal meth.

On March 6, 2022, Vinh City Police broke up Project 486H, arrested 2 subjects illegally buying and selling drugs, seized 2 heroin cakes, 4 kg of crystal meth, 12,000 MTTH pills, and 1 car.

Many drug traffickers have firearms. Photo: Trong Tuan

Then, on April 28, 2022, PC04 Department (Provincial Police) and Nghi Loc District Police co-chaired the investigation into Project 222L (phase 1), arresting 1 drug offender, seizing 4 kg of crystal meth, 1 heroin cake, 2 military guns, and 7 bullets.

In particular, with the determination to "clean up" drugs in the border areas, the Provincial Police have developed and vigorously implemented the Project "Border communes clean of drugs", thereby successfully eliminating 4 hotspots; 14 complicated drug points; cleaning up 9 communes with drugs and keeping 74 communes clean of drugs. It is worth mentioning that drug-related criminals are often very reckless, carrying hot weapons and ready to fight back against the authorities when discovered and chased.

Evidence seized at the scene of a drug case. Photo courtesy of Hong Ngoc

For example, at 7:30 p.m. on May 30, the Drug Crime Investigation Police Department, the Provincial Police, in coordination with Que Phong District Police, arrested two subjects (Mong ethnic people) red-handed while transporting drugs for sale.

During the arrest, the subjects fought back fiercely, using a K59 gun to shoot a Que Phong District Police officer, injuring him in the left thigh. However, with a brave spirit and determination to suppress crime, the police successfully controlled and arrested the two subjects. The seized evidence included 15 heroin cakes, 1 gun, and 7 bullets.

Kha Van Bay (black shirt) was arrested in Dua village, Luong Minh commune, Tuong Duong. Photo: Trong Tuan

Then, on June 15, in the area of ​​Dua village, Luong Minh commune, Tuong Duong district, the Drug Crime Investigation Police Department, Nghe An Provincial Police and Tuong Duong District Police, in coordination with the Provincial Police Mobile Police Department and Ky Son District Police (Anti-drug patrol team on National Highway 7) successfully broke up a case, eliminated a complex drug point equipped with hot weapons, and successfully arrested Kha Van Bay (born in 1984), residing in Dua village, Luong Minh commune, Tuong Duong district.

At the scene, the authorities seized 1 military weapon, 17 bullets, 7 homemade guns, 50 synthetic drug pills, and 2.5 grams of heroin. Kha Van Bay is an especially dangerous subject, often using grenades and military guns when buying and selling drugs.

At the time of arrest, suspect Bay stubbornly resisted the police, biting the hand of a police officer, but the arresting force successfully controlled the suspect, ensuring the safety of the participating forces.

In the early morning of June 22, 2022, in the area near Landmark 404, in Tien Tieu village, Nam Can commune, Ky Son district, the Drug and Crime Prevention and Control Department, Nam Can International Border Guard Station organized a pursuit to arrest a group of criminals trafficking and illegally transporting drugs across the border.

Evidence of 10 kg of drugs the subjects left behind in the deep forest. Photo: Hai Thuong

When they discovered the authorities, the group took advantage of the darkness and difficult terrain to flee into the forest, leaving behind a black backpack. Inside the backpack, there were 10 rectangular blocks wrapped in yellow polythene, with foreign writing, containing white crystals (about 10 kg) suspected to be synthetic drugs.

Nghe An Border Guard Force said that they have seized the exhibits and brought them to Nam Can International Border Guard Station to continue investigating, verifying, clarifying and completing the case file for handling according to the provisions of law.

Two suspects Cao Dang Hong, Vuong Nhat Minh and evidence of the case. Photo: Hong Ngoc

Or most recently, at 10:00 p.m. on June 25, 2022, in Thanh Thuy commune, Thanh Chuong district, the Drug Crime Investigation Police Department of the Provincial Police, Dien Chau District Police co-chaired and coordinated with Thanh Chuong District Police, Thanh Thuy Border Guard Station to arrest 2 subjects for illegal drug trafficking.

They are: Cao Dang Hong (born 1986), permanent resident of Lien Chieu district, Da Nang city and Vuong Nhat Minh (born 1984) residing in Cua Nam ward, Vinh city. The seized evidence includes 1 kg of crystal meth, 6,000 synthetic drug pills, 1 military pistol, 10 bullets (of which 1 bullet was loaded), 1 motorbike and 4 mobile phones.

According to the police, before being arrested, Cao Dang Hong was the owner of a bar in Da Nang and the main supplier of large quantities of synthetic drugs to customers in Nghe An. His modus operandi was very reckless and daring, and he was always armed with “hot” weapons for self-defense.

In the first 6 months of 2022, functional forces in Nghe An province discovered and arrested 632 cases, 888 subjects illegally buying, selling, storing, and transporting drugs. Of which, the police force arrested 624 cases, 877 subjects; the Border Guard force arrested 8 cases, 11 subjects; seized 24.1 kg of heroin; 13.5 kg of synthetic drugs; 239,104 synthetic drug pills; 83.7 kg of crystal meth; 2.1 kg of marijuana; 35 kg of opium and other related evidence. (Compared to the same period in 2021, there was a decrease of 71 cases (+10.1%), a decrease of 71 subjects (=7.4%), the total weight of drugs seized decreased by 599 kg)).

Do not let Nghe An become a smuggling and transit area.

According to the authorities: Although drug crimes continue to be vigorously fought, they still have great potential. The methods and tricks of drug criminals are increasingly daring, reckless, sophisticated, and tightly organized.

In particular, currently, criminals often use modern technical means, use social networks, highly secure messages to communicate, transfer money through intermediary accounts... to conceal and commit crimes, causing many difficulties for the detection and arrest of functional forces.

9 subjects were arrested by Quy Hop District Police for the act of "Illegal trading and possession of drugs". Photo: Duc Vu

On the other hand, Nghe An is a province with a large area, quite complex terrain, large population, many important traffic routes running through the area and a long border with Laos, which are favorable conditions for criminals, especially drug-related crimes, to operate.

Currently, in 27 border communes in Nghe An, there are many communes with complex drug problems; the number of drug addicts is still high; criminal activities related to complex drug locations and gathering places pose high risks. Drug criminals often transport drugs from Laos into the province and to other localities for consumption (through monitoring, 80% of the amount of drugs seized in the province originates from smuggling across the Vietnam - Laos border).

Evidence in a drug case. Photo: Trong Tuan

In the coming time, in addition to promoting propaganda and expanding the movement "All people protect national security", new models, good practices in drug prevention and control; functional sectors and localities in Nghe An province determined to continue effectively implementing the Project "Improving the effectiveness of eliminating complicated drug-related areas in Nghe An, period 2016-2020, vision to 2025...".

The focus is to fight resolutely against drug crimes; prevent the “supply” of drugs from outside into the province; resolutely not let Nghe An become a place for smuggling, buying, selling, transporting, and transiting large quantities of drugs domestically and internationally. Strengthen international cooperation, especially with the border provinces of Laos, in the fight against, prevention, and control of crimes and law violations.

Authorities opened the seal and took samples for testing of the seized drugs. Photo courtesy of Duc Vu

On the side of the Public Security sector, we will continue to coordinate with localities to effectively direct the implementation of the Project "Building clean border communes from drugs" with the determination to build 27 clean border communes from drugs in 2022 and maintain and improve one step further in the following years.

At the same time, effectively implement the Memorandum of Understanding on drug prevention and control cooperation between the Vietnamese Ministry of Public Security and the Lao Ministry of Public Security, creating a breakthrough in drug prevention and control work.