Nghe An is determined to build a drug-free area.

Many major drug trafficking rings have been dismantled.

The fight against drug trafficking is a particularly important task aimed at protecting national sovereignty and border security. Therefore, the Nghe An Border Guard force regularly coordinates with other forces and local Party committees and authorities to effectively combat this type of crime.

Recently, at 2:30 PM on November 4, 2024, at the Nam Can International Border Gate area, the Anti-Drug and Crime Prevention Department of the Border Guard, the Border Gate Department of the Border Guard, and the Nghe An Border Guard Command, in coordination with the Nghe An Customs Department, apprehended five foreign nationals (two men and three women) in the act of illegally transporting narcotics. These individuals were identified as: Dalavong Kinnaveth (born in 1996); Phabou Misouda (born in 2005); Chotthvong Khat (born in 2000); Chanthavong Hongfa (born in 2002), all residing in Vientiane (Laos); and Lasengthong Yotdaling (born in 1992), residing in Khammouane Province (Laos).

At the scene, authorities discovered a large quantity of synthetic ketamine hidden in the driver's seat and in the fuel tank. Upon counting, authorities seized 70 packages weighing approximately 70 kg of ketamine, a vehicle with Lao license plates, and other related evidence.

At the awards ceremony for the special task force that followed, Major General Nguyen Van Thien - Deputy Commander of the Border Guard - congratulated the Nghe An Border Guard on their outstanding achievements in combating a major drug trafficking case, ensuring the safety of all participating forces.

At the same time, the Deputy Commander of the Border Guard emphasized that in the coming period, the activities of drug criminals will remain a pressing issue, occurring on all fronts with increasingly reckless and sophisticated methods.

Therefore, along with strengthening propaganda work to raise people's legal awareness, the Nghe An Border Guard Command needs to thoroughly understand the local area, develop specific plans, and do a good job of basic investigation; coordinate all professional measures comprehensively and closely connect with other forces to successfully complete the task.

As the core force in crime prevention and control, the Nghe An Provincial Police have recently focused on combating and dismantling many large inter-provincial and transnational drug trafficking and transportation rings and groups; arresting the ringleaders.

For example, on October 25, 2024, the Nghe An Provincial Police, in coordination with the Drug Crime Investigation Department of the Hanoi City Police and the Hanoi City Customs Department, arrested Nguyen Van Ba, residing in Quynh Giang commune, Quynh Luu district, Nghe An province, upon receiving 16 packages of milk suspected of containing synthetic drugs, which had been sent from Europe to Hanoi via Noi Bai International Airport and then onward to Quynh Luu district.

During a search of the person and vehicle, authorities discovered 9.3 kg of ketamine disguised in 16 cartons of milk. An urgent search of the residence resulted in the seizure of an additional 600 pills of synthetic drugs.

Subsequently, through intelligence gathering, the Drug Crime Investigation Department of the Provincial Police discovered that a Telegram social media account named "Bờm" was involved in numerous groups such as: "Kẹo ke - Nước vui - Saigon, Hanoi, Da Nang"; "Nước vui - Tổng nguồn"; "Kẹo ke bay lắc chính hãng"; "Cơm kẹo mộc bài"... showing suspicious signs of involvement in the illegal trafficking of narcotics, so they focused their investigation on verifying the information.

Through this investigation, it was discovered that the owner of the Telegram account named "Bờm" is Tran Van Luan (born in 1991), residing in Kim Son town, Que Phong district, who is suspected of using the aforementioned Telegram account and Zalo account to communicate and connect with an organized drug trafficking ring, operating from Que Phong district to other localities for distribution.

Furthermore, Luan also used intermediary accounts to receive and transfer money for drug purchases; he disguised and concealed drugs as other goods to be sent via passenger buses or delivery services…

Based on collected documents and evidence, at approximately 9:40 PM on November 6, 2024, at Km 682+300 on the Ho Chi Minh Highway, in Ky Tan commune, Tan Ky district, the Narcotics Crime Investigation Department of the Nghe An Provincial Police, in coordination with the Tan Ky District Police, apprehended Tran Van Luan and Le Dinh Viet (born in 1993), residing in Kim Son town, Que Phong district, for the crime of "illegally buying and selling narcotics".

During the arrest, authorities discovered and seized 6,000 synthetic drug pills wrapped in multiple layers of plastic and hidden in the empty compartment under the rear seat of the pickup truck that Tran Van Luan and Le Dinh Viet were using. In addition, authorities found and confiscated two mobile phones and a dagger from the two suspects, which were found on the passenger seat of the vehicle.

Previously, closely following the directives of the Ministry of Public Security and the Provincial People's Committee on improving the effectiveness of combating and preventing drug crimes along the border, and limiting the infiltration of drugs into the interior through the Vietnam-Laos border, on the evening of July 5, 2024, the Drug Crime Investigation Police Department and the police forces of Thanh Chuong, Anh Son, and Quy Hop districts, in coordination with other professional units, successfully dismantled a large-scale drug trafficking ring, arresting two suspects and seizing 27 blocks of heroin, 5 kg of methamphetamine, 6,000 synthetic drug pills, and many related exhibits...

The ringleader of the drug trafficking network is S.Đ.T, residing in Quỳ Hợp district, Nghệ An province. This network illegally transported and traded narcotics smuggled from abroad into the border area, then disguised them in goods and sent them via passenger buses for distribution in the northern, southern, and Central Highlands regions.

Determined to "clean up" the area.

With a land border stretching 468.281 km, bordering three provinces of Laos – Xieng Khouang, Hua Phan, and Bolikhamsai – and being close to the "Golden Triangle" – one of the major drug production areas – Nghe An is identified as a complex area regarding drug-related crime.

Following the direction of the Provincial People's Committee on "Continuing to prioritize forces and measures to strongly and decisively combat drug crimes along the Vietnam-Laos border, determined to maintain the 'green zone' and secure checkpoints, preventing the recurrence of complex drug crime situations in the border area," along with the fight against drug crimes, in recent times, functional forces in the province have actively coordinated with local Party committees and authorities to effectively implement the "Drug-Free Border Commune" project, which has been commended and replicated nationwide by the Ministry of Public Security.

Currently, Nghe An province has expanded the "Drug-Free Commune" project to all 21 districts, cities, and towns in the province, with 185 communes registered to build "drug-free" communes and 11 districts and towns registered to build "Drug-Free Districts/Towns". To date, the entire province has 272 out of 460 communes, wards, and towns that are drug-free, and 5 district-level units (Hoang Mai town, Cua Lo town, and Nghia Dan, Ky Son, and Anh Son districts) have 100% of their communes meeting the drug-free criteria.

The management, rehabilitation, education, and reform of offenders, delinquent youth, drug addicts, and those recovering from addiction within families and communities are closely coordinated with the government, social organizations, and families. This contributes to limiting recidivism and preventing crime in areas undergoing transformation and post-transformation monitoring, especially in areas covered by the "Transformation of Key and Complex Areas Regarding Social Order and Security in Nghe An Province" project for the period 2019-2030..

Currently, 100% of the areas designated for drug rehabilitation have 1,587/1,587 registered drug addicts, accounting for 16% of the total number of registered drug addicts in the entire province. In addition, the authorities are focusing on promoting the role of the people as "eyes and ears" in the fight against crime through the development of models (report boxes, security keychains, etc.) within the "All People Protect National Security" movement.

In particular, leverage the influence of respected individuals within clans, village elders, and community leaders to form a network of propagandists who help people understand and clearly identify the tactics of various types of criminals and the harmful effects of drugs, thereby pledging not to participate in buying, selling, transporting, or assisting in or concealing drug-related crimes.

Forecasting that the drug crime situation will continue to be complex in the coming period, the Provincial People's Committee has issued many directives to functional agencies to proactively monitor the situation, methods, and tactics of criminals, avoiding being "passive or surprised"; especially regarding illegal drug trafficking and transportation networks from outside into Nghe An, and transnational drug trafficking organizations and networks, in conjunction with the work of eradicating complex drug hotspots and locations…

The People's Committee of Nghe An province has issued a plan to build "Vinh City free from drugs".”(issued together with Decision No. 2364/QD-UBND dated September 9, 2024) also demonstrates Nghe An's determination to contain and repel the threat of drugs.

This is a strategic project, a crucial turning point, creating a ripple effect and bringing about comprehensive changes in social order and security in Vinh City in particular, and Nghe An province in general.