Determining that propaganda work must go one step ahead, in the border communes within the scope of the project in Tuong Duong district, in addition to banners and slogans hung from the main road to the villages, the police force also coordinated with departments and organizations to go to each household to propagate, organize the signing of commitments and promote propaganda through the radio system in both the common language and the languages of ethnic minorities.
Tam Hop Commune is about 30km southwest of Tuong Duong District Center, and is identified as one of the areas with potential drug problems. Captain Tho Ba Ly - Head of Tam Hop Commune Police said: Although there are no drug retail locations in the commune, many drug addicts and suspected drug addicts in the area often sneak out of the locality to buy drugs for use, affecting security and order. In that situation, after screening 16 drug addicts, in addition to 8 people who work far away and are not present in the locality, we coordinated to send 8 people to compulsory drug rehabilitation at drug rehabilitation facilities, and organized rapid drug testing for 13 suspected drug addicts with negative results.
Tam Hop Commune Police have proactively advised local Party committees and authorities, regularly organizing propaganda among the people about the evils and harmful effects of drugs. In particular, they have constantly innovated the content of propaganda work, targeting union members, youth, and students. Using "real people, real events" - drug addicts who have successfully quit their addiction, have jobs, and have stable lives - for propaganda. Thereby, organizing 100% of households to sign a commitment not to store, buy, sell, or illegally transport drugs...
In Thanh Chuong district, in the 6 months of implementing the project, 54 files were directed to be sent to compulsory drug rehabilitation facilities, and 37 cases of drug rehabilitation using Methadone were established at the district health center... For example, in Ngoc Lam commune, with 98% of ethnic minorities resettled from Ban Ve hydropower plant, one of the key areas in terms of security and order, with a long border with complex terrain, many trails and openings, creating conditions for subjects to take advantage of smuggling drugs across the border. Along with promoting the role of village elders and village chiefs in propaganda work, the commune police force has presided over and coordinated the arrest of many subjects violating drug laws, and destroyed complex retail locations in the area. In particular, 29 subjects were placed in compulsory drug rehabilitation facilities, 17 subjects were managed with oral methadone, 7 subjects were recorded for post-rehabilitation management, and 38 subjects were monitored for suspected illegal drug use. According to local police, "cutting the bridge" is necessary and important to keep the area clean of drugs, because whenever there are addicts in the area, drug-related crimes and retail outlets will arise.
In Mon Son commune, Con Cuong district, maintaining a crime reporting mailbox, publicly posting the phone numbers of the District Police Chief, Deputy District Police Chief in charge of crime prevention and control, Deputy Head of the Criminal Investigation Team on crime, economy and drugs, and Commune Police Chief at the cultural houses of 14/14 villages and hamlets, has created conditions for people to detect and report drug-related crimes. Thanks to that, the local authorities have coordinated to arrest 4 cases and 4 subjects related to drugs.
Lieutenant Colonel Luu Mai Chau - Head of Con Cuong District Police said: With synchronous and drastic deployment, in the two border communes of Mon Son and Chau Khe, the functional forces have arrested 6 cases, 6 subjects for the act of "Illegal possession of drugs", arrested 1 case, 1 subject for the act of "Illegal transportation of drugs"; seized 105.52 grams of heroin, 4,210 synthetic drug pills. Up to now, in these areas, there are no more gathering places, complicated points, retail points, places organizing illegal use of drugs; there are no subjects, groups, lines related to drugs...
Along with the main role of the police force, all levels, sectors and local authorities in 6 border districts have really taken action and implemented many synchronous solutions. In Tuong Duong district, based on the Resolution of the Standing Committee of the District Party Committee, the District People's Committee issued a Plan, established a Steering Committee... thereby mobilizing the combined strength of Party committees, authorities at all levels and the entire population in implementation. Not only stopping at the scope of communes under the project but also building models of drug prevention and control in other localities. Typically, the District Fatherland Front Committee coordinated to build 4 models of "Drug-free village, associated with community reintegration" in Co Phao village, Yen Na commune; "Drug-free village and security cameras" in Khe Kien village, Luu Kien commune; "Drug-free village, associated with the movement of the entire people to protect national security" in Phay village, Xieng My commune; “Drug-free village, associated with the development of bamboo and rattan weaving” in Yen Huong village, Yen Hoa commune, associated with the implementation of village conventions and village regulations. The District Youth Union coordinated with the Luong Minh Commune Police to build a model of “Drug-free Youth Union”… contributing to pushing back the complicated situation of drug abuse from the community. In addition, the work of supporting community reintegration; building, consolidating, maintaining and improving the effectiveness of advanced models and typical examples also received special attention.
According to Mr. Nguyen Van Hai - Secretary of Tuong Duong District Party Committee, doing a good job of managing and educating people to reintegrate into the community will contribute significantly to the fight against crime and prevent recidivism, especially those related to drugs. This is a deeply humane activity, helping people who have made mistakes not only become useful people for their families and society but also be an example for others with past mistakes to strive to rise up.
This was confirmed when we visited the family of Vieng Van Phung in Xop Nam village, Tam Hop commune, who had committed the crime of "Illegal possession of narcotics" and was sentenced to 24 months in prison by the People's Court of Tuong Duong district. When he first returned to his hometown, Phung encountered many difficulties in reintegrating into the community because of his inferiority complex of being a prisoner. Meanwhile, his family's economy was very difficult, and his children were at school age. And then his own determination, the encouragement of his family, the attention of the local government and organizations gave him the motivation to gradually overcome his inferiority complex and stand up. Realizing that the area was very favorable for livestock development, after receiving a preferential loan of 100 million VND, along with guidance from the commune's agricultural officers, Phung invested in raising pigs and cows. Taking short-term, nurturing long-term, he has now built a farm with more than 30 pigs, 5 breeding cows, not to mention raising chickens, goats, and growing cassava...; each year he earns over 70 million VND, his family life is gradually stabilizing. "If you unfortunately make a mistake, don't give up but find a way to stand up. For me, in addition to my own determination and encouragement from my family, I also need the support of all levels, sectors, authorities, organizations, and neighbors, especially during the period of reintegration into the community," Mr. Phung shared.
In many localities, during the implementation of the project, the role of the “extended arm” of the village elders, village chiefs, and prestigious people has been promoted well. Typically, in Que Phong district, one of the key border districts with complicated drug problems, the team of village elders, village chiefs, and prestigious people “went to every alley, knocked on every door, met every person” to mobilize people, first of all, people in the family to stay away from drugs.
According to Mr. Luong Van Nguyen - Head of Muong Phu village, Thong Thu commune: The whole village has 227 households, mainly Thai people. Previously, the situation of drug trafficking and use was very complicated. After implementing the project, together with functional forces, local authorities, village elders, village chiefs, and prestigious people directly met with people to organize propaganda and sign commitments not to violate.
Along with that, each clan has included contents related to drug prevention and control in the conventions and village rules. Any clan that has a drug-related subject, such as an addict, will be subject to a review within the clan and coordinate with the government and functional forces in drug rehabilitation work, monitoring the subject when returning to the community... "The prestige and honor of the clan is very great, so every clan is determined that if someone in the clan shows signs of suspected addiction, they will call the police to check immediately," said Mr. Nguyen.
Talking to us, Lieutenant Colonel Tran Minh Son - Head of Que Phong District Police said: In the work of drug prevention and control, the team of village elders, village chiefs, and prestigious people play a very important role. Thanks to the synchronous participation of the entire political system from the district to the grassroots, in the 6 months of implementing the project, in the area, 27 cases, 31 drug criminals were arrested, 1 hotspot, 1 complex point, 4 drug retail points were eliminated. 11 drug addicts were arrested, 21 drug addicts were sent to compulsory drug rehabilitation, 52 cases of addiction were verified and clarified... Up to now, 3/4 border communes, including Thong Thu, Hanh Dich and Nam Giai have met the "clean" criteria for drugs.
It can be said that to implement the Project of building "Non-drug free border communes", the entire political system in Nghe An border districts has been mobilized with high determination. Up to now, the People's Committees of 6 border districts have issued decisions to recognize 26 "narcotics free" border communes and continue to implement "clean" measures in the project. Thereby, ensuring peace for the people, peace for the area, and peace for the border.
