More than 220 hectares of drug-containing plants were discovered in 6 Vietnam-Laos border provinces.

According to information from the Drug Prevention and Control Conference between 8 provinces of Vietnam and Laos, including Hua Phan, Luang Prabang, Phong Xa Ly, Xieng Khouang, Nghe An, Thanh Hoa, Son La, Dien Bien, recently held in Nghe An, in 2019, the situation of planting and replanting plants containing narcotic substances tended to decrease compared to the previous year but still had potential complications, especially in Dien Bien province of Vietnam and some provinces of neighboring Laos.

Opium poppy. Photo from the internet

From October 2018 to September 2019, more than 220.7 hectares of narcotic-containing plants were discovered in 6 of the 8 provinces mentioned above. Of which, Dien Bien had 193 m², Hua Phan 41.7 hectares, Xieng Khouang 48.2 hectares, Luang Prabang 104.6 hectares and Phong Sa Ly 26.2 hectares... The two provinces of Thanh Hoa and Nghe An did not detect any cultivation of plants containing narcotic substances.

Also according to the report, currently in 8 provinces there are 45,585 drug addicts with management records, of which Nghe An has 6,823 people, Thanh Hoa has 7,472 people, Dien Bien has 9,139 people, Son La has 9,176 people, Hua Phan has 4,724 people, Xieng Khouang has 2,143 people, Luang Prabang has 3,663 people, Phong Sa Ly has 2,445 people.

Nghe An police busted a drug ring, seizing 700kg of crystal meth. Photo courtesy

The anti-drug forces of 8 provinces arrested and handled 4,244 cases, 5,402 subjects (an increase of 113 cases, 262 subjects compared to 2018). The total seized evidence included 266.8 kg of heroin, 1,395,703 pills and 118.64 kg of synthetic drugs, 797.4 kg of crystal meth, 125.8 kg of opium resin, 726 kg of marijuana, 0.85 grams of morphine, 84 kg of opium poppy fruit. The total seized and handled 2.26 billion of various types of drugs and many other evidences related to drug-related criminal activities.

Of which, the Nghe An province's anti-drug force arrested and handled 1,409 cases, 1,717 drug-related criminals; seized evidence of 92.4 kg of heroin, 69.6 kg of synthetic drugs, 215.641 synthetic drug pills, 762.2 kg of crystal meth, 109.4 grams of marijuana, 2.2 kg of opium. In total, 948 kg of various drugs, 16 guns, 135 bullets, 5 grenades, 84 cars, 285 motorbikes and many other tools and vehicles related to drug-related crimes were arrested and handled.