Nghe An resolutely launches campaign to fight against drug crimes

Dismantling many networks, arresting many subjects

Implementing Plan 410/KH-UBND of the People's Committee of Nghe An province on launching a peak period of attacking and suppressing drug crimes across the province (from June 1 to June 30, 2024), the police, border guards, customs forces... have focused on fighting and eliminating many large drug trafficking and transportation rings and gangs between provinces and across countries; arresting the ringleaders.

Typically, Vinh City Police (from June 1 to 13, 2024) arrested and handled 35 cases, 46 subjects, successfully dismantled 2 projects, simultaneously eliminated 9 illegal drug retail points in the area. Including a transnational drug ring from abroad to Vinh City for consumption.

Specifically, at about 12:05 on June 12, at landmark H3-743 of Ho Chi Minh road in Ngoc Lam village, Thanh Thuy commune, Thanh Chuong district, Vinh city police presided over and coordinated with Thanh Chuong district police, Thanh Thuy border gate border guard station (Nghe An Border Guard) to successfully control and arrest Xayyasone Xay (born 1990), residing in Saychalon village, Vieng Thong district, Bolikhamxay province (Laos).

Seized evidence included a backpack containing 3 kg of crystal meth and 170,000 synthetic drug pills (20 kg of various drugs) along with a number of other related evidence.

Continuing to expand the investigation, in the early morning of June 13, the Task Force arrested accomplice Le Ngoc Duong (born 1990), residing in Vinh City. Currently, the case is being further investigated by the Vinh City Police Investigation Agency.

Drug criminals often have sophisticated and daring methods, always have "hot goods" on them, even set up huts, sheds, and hide in deep forests to buy, sell, and transport drugs.

However, it still could not escape the "sight" of the authorities. Typically, at 6:00 a.m. on June 10, 2024, Quy Chau District Police and the Drug Crime Investigation Police Department of the Provincial Police jointly presided over the arrest of Luong Van Dung (born in 1961), residing in Quang Phong Commune, Que Phong District, for the act of illegally buying, selling, and transporting drugs.

This reckless subject often hides in the forest area bordering the two districts of Quy Chau and Que Phong to retail drugs.

At the scene, police seized 4,000 synthetic drug pills, 40 grams of heroin, 1 knife, 2 cell phones and a number of related exhibits.

With a land border of 468.281 km, bordering the three provinces of Xieng Khouang, Hua Phan, Bo-Li-Kham-Xay (Laos), and close to the "Golden Triangle" which is one of the major drug production areas, Nghe An is identified as a complex area for drug crimes.

Therefore, in Plan 410/KH-UBND, the Provincial People's Committee emphasized: Continue to prioritize forces and measures to fight strongly and resolutely against drug crimes on the Vietnam - Laos border, determined to maintain the "green zone", firmly block, not allowing the complicated drug crime situation to recur in the border area.

As a specialized force in charge of managing and protecting the border, patrolling, controlling and fighting all types of crimes are always focused on by Nghe An Border Guard, and a series of major cases have been busted.

Typically, at 5:00 a.m. on June 1, at Nhot Lot village, My Ly commune, Ky Son district, My Ly Border Guard Station, Drug and Crime Prevention Department (Nghe An Border Guard) presided over and coordinated with the Drug Control Team, Nghe An Provincial Customs Department to discover and arrest Va Xenh Tho (also known as Mai Tho), born in 1993, Mong ethnic group, residing in Huoi-Pa village, Muong Duong village cluster, Muong Quan district, Hua Phan province, Laos, for illegally transporting drugs. Evidence seized at the scene included 6,000 pink tablets (suspected to be synthetic drugs).

During the investigation, Va Xenh Tho confessed that he was illegally transporting drugs from across the border to Vietnam for consumption, and was discovered and arrested upon arriving at the above location.

According to Colonel Duong Hong Hai, Deputy Commander of Nghe An Provincial Border Guard: Border guards organize closed patrols on the border 24/7.

In particular, focus on border gates, trails and terrain to identify subjects that can be exploited to transport drugs into the border. In addition, focus on professional work, investigation and verification to clarify suspicious subjects on both sides of the border, on that basis, establish special projects to fight and destroy them.

Strengthening propaganda, early and remote prevention

Implementing the direction of the Provincial People's Committee in the 2024 Drug Prevention and Control Action Month, the People's Committees of districts and cities have focused on diversifying propaganda activities to each neighborhood, household and directly in the community, especially in key areas and locations, with a large concentration of workers in industrial parks, high-risk areas, etc. At the same time, many rallies, parades, and campaigns were organized to respond to the Drug Prevention and Control Action Month, creating a vibrant atmosphere in the area.

Hung Nguyen district currently has 9 drug-free communes. However, it is determined that the situation of drug crimes and social evils is still very complicated (in the first 5 months of 2024, the district police discovered, arrested, and prosecuted 12 cases, 16 subjects with acts of storing, buying, selling, and illegally transporting drugs, confiscating 559.91g of drugs and 37kg of marijuana).

Therefore, the Steering Committee for Crime Prevention, Social Evils and Building a Movement for the Whole People to Protect National Security from the district to the communes and towns has focused on launching a peak period to promote propaganda work in response to the Action Month for Drug Prevention and Control in conjunction with cultural, artistic, physical education, sports and other activities to attract the participation of a large number of people.

The Que Phong border district has more than 74km of border with Laos, the rugged mountainous terrain is a favorable condition for drug criminals to operate and infiltrate into the interior. On average, each year the district police prosecute about 120 drug cases and send about 150 people to compulsory drug rehabilitation.

Therefore, in addition to the investigation, prosecution and trial of drug crimes, propaganda work for early and remote prevention is also focused on by local Party committees and authorities.

Speaking at the Rally in response to the "Month of Action on Drug Prevention and Control and National Day on Drug Prevention and Control" in 2024, comrade Duong Hoang Vu - Chairman of Que Phong District People's Committee requested agencies, units, communes and towns to launch a peak campaign of drug prevention and control propaganda; improve the effectiveness of building drug-free communes, towns and residential areas associated with the campaign "All people unite to build a cultural life".

In addition, launch a mass movement to detect and denounce crimes, encourage addicts and families with addicts to voluntarily report and comply with treatment and rehabilitation methods...

In the border areas, where the majority of ethnic minorities live, the masterminds often take advantage of local people during their work on the fields or visiting relatives across the two borders to illegally transport drugs to Vietnam for consumption.

Faced with that reality, border guards have coordinated with local Party committees and authorities to promote the dissemination of laws, combined with programs and projects to support people in socio-economic development to repel drug crimes.

At Nam Can International Border Guard Station, which manages the area of ​​2 communes Nam Can and Ta Ca, Ky Son district with 30km of border, there is Nam Can International Border Gate for trade with Laos.

Lieutenant Colonel Hoang Trong Huy, Deputy Head of the Nam Can International Border Guard Station, said: In addition to strictly checking and controlling people and vehicles entering and exiting the country, the unit directs officers and soldiers to stay close to the people and villages, and promote propaganda work in many forms in both the common language and the local language.

In particular, enlist the help of prestigious people in clans, village elders, village chiefs... to form a network of propagandists to help people grasp and clearly identify the tricks of criminals and the harmful effects of drugs, thereby committing not to participate in buying, selling, transporting, or assisting or covering up drug criminals.

At the same time, the border guards also regularly coordinate with the functional forces of Laos to effectively carry out drug prevention and control work in the border area.