In the first six months of 2016, the drug crime investigation police force (C47, Ministry of Public Security) coordinated with functional forces to seize nearly 420kg and 150,000 synthetic drug pills.

Colonel Nguyen Dich Nam, deputy director of Department C47, said this at the first 6-month review conference of the drug crime investigation police force.

According to Mr. Nam, the amount of synthetic drugs seized increased sharply compared to the same period in 2015 (an increase of 130kg).

Tuong Duong district police count evidence of a drug trafficking case that was recently busted in the area.

According to Mr. Nam, the situation of buying and selling and using synthetic drugs, especially “crystal” synthetic drugs, continues to increase, with users mainly being teenagers. Synthetic drugs are mainly brought from China into Vietnam through the border areas of Lang Son and Quang Ninh provinces.

Lieutenant Colonel Bui Duc Thiem, deputy head of Department 5, C47, said that the trend of drug addicts is switching to using synthetic drugs instead of traditional drugs such as heroin and opium. It is estimated that in large cities, the number of people using synthetic drugs accounts for 70-80%.

“Understanding of synthetic drugs is still very vague, some people think that using synthetic drugs is not addictive. But through analysis, when used, the harmful effects of synthetic drugs are terrible, it strongly affects the brain and central nervous system. When being “stoned”, it is almost impossible to control behavior, can cause serious crimes, even kill your own relatives” - Mr. Thiem warned.

Notably, recently, authorities discovered more than 5 tons of dried herb “khat leaves” (containing cathione, which is on the list of narcotics issued by the Government) packaged into packages and shipped by post from Africa to Vietnam, then continued to the US, UK, Australia, etc. for consumption.

According to TTO