Behind the exploits of anti-drug soldiers

The fragile line between life and death

The first floor lobby of the Drug Crime Investigation Police Department (Ministry of Public Security) in Thanh Xuan District, Hanoi has reserved a place of honor to record the names of martyrs who sacrificed their lives in the fight against drug crimes. On that honor board, there is the name of Captain Sam Quoc Nghia - an officer of the Criminal - Economic - Drug Crime Investigation Police Team of Que Phong District Police, Nghe An Province.

Remember, on the morning of March 22, 2020, like many previous cases, after approaching the area with his teammates to arrest drug traffickers, Captain Sam Quoc Nghia volunteered to go to the front line to move closer to the suspected area. After knocking down and controlling one subject, suddenly from the bushes behind, he was stabbed and slashed repeatedly by another subject. Despite being seriously injured, Captain Sam Quoc Nghia persisted in chasing and at the same time signaled for support from his teammates. He was rushed to the emergency room by his teammates but did not survive. Captain Sam Quoc Nghia sacrificed himself when he was only 2 months away from turning 30...

Choosing to embark on the "career" of fighting drug crimes, they have determined that they will always have to face the thin line between life and death. For Captain PLT - an officer of Que Phong District Police, 7:30 p.m. on May 30, 2022 is a moment he will never forget. Like many previous cases, after a period of gathering information, when the opportunity was ripe, that night, he and his teammates caught 2 subjects red-handed transporting 15 heroin cakes for sale. During the arrest, the subjects fought back fiercely, using a K59 gun to shoot and injure comrade T. However, with a determined spirit of suppressing crime, he and his teammates controlled and successfully arrested the 2 subjects.

In fact, before making the decision to "cast the net", any Task Force must anticipate all possible situations to outline the most meticulous combat plan; in which, the immutable principle is to ensure absolute safety for officers, soldiers and people. However, no matter how detailed and careful, risks cannot be fully anticipated and luck is not always on their side. Like Captain PLT, Major Moong Van Tan - police officer of Chau Nga commune, Quy Chau district; Senior Lieutenant Nguyen Huu Cuong - Drug Investigation Police Team, Vinh City Police; Senior Lieutenant Duong Trong Dung - officer of the Criminal - Economic - Drug Police Team, Tan Ky District Police; Lieutenant Nguyen Tien Hoang - police officer of Nghia Phuc commune, Tan Ky district; Senior Lieutenant Pham Xuan Nghi - police officer of Tri Le commune, Que Phong district... all carry injuries on their bodies in the front line of the fight against drug crimes.

Every year, dozens of officers and soldiers are at risk of HIV exposure due to the resistance of HIV-infected criminals. “In a drug case in May 2023, after successfully arresting and preparing to put the criminal in the car, he suddenly crashed into the glass door, causing bleeding. I performed first aid and bandaged the subject's wound. My hand was scratched during the arrest, so it came into contact with the subject's blood,” Lieutenant PTL - an officer of Que Phong District Police recalled.

After receiving information from the Rehabilitation Center that this subject was infected with HIV, he had to take preventive treatment to prevent HIV exposure. Due to prejudices about this incurable disease, he sadly hid it from his relatives and friends, silently endured and faced the side effects of the medication.

“Everyone chooses the easy job, who will do the hard work?”

The hurried trips rolling through the night, some days without eating or sleeping, some nights for months, the legs following the trails in the deep forest until they were exhausted were nothing compared to the tense and fierce moments of fighting with criminals. The endless business trips, the messages the soldiers sent to their families were just a few words "on duty" and then hung up, with no return date. The people at home were even more anxious and worried. There were countless "those" - the sacrifices and dangers that the soldiers in charge of drug prevention and control had to face when deciding to embark on this hot front. However, they still resolutely chose and firmly believed in the path they had pursued, because "everyone chooses the easy job, who will do the hard work?".

The iron determination, steadfastness, intelligence, courage, and sacrifice of each soldier in the fight against drugs have been duly rewarded. In the past 10 years (2013 - 2023), Nghe An Police have discovered more than 400 major drug cases and cases; more than 11,200 cases and 14,400 subjects have been discovered and arrested; more than 2.6 tons of drugs of all kinds have been seized. Of these, 817 points, 175 complex locations, hundreds of large drug crime rings and gangs have been fought and eliminated, with the results of the cases resounding throughout the country.

In contrast, before 2018, there were many dangerous drug crime lines and gangs in the area, equipped with "hot weapons", setting up camps at the border. Faced with this situation, Nghe An Provincial Police proactively and promptly advised the Ministry of Public Security and the Provincial Party Committee to resolutely attack with weapons, sweep and repel, thereby eliminating this situation for a long time.

From 2019 to now, with the motto "prevention is both necessary and combative, prevention is very important, strategic, long-term, combative is regular and breakthrough", the synchronous implementation of preventive measures, "cleaning up" drugs from a distance, from the grassroots to stabilize the area has been focused on by Nghe An Police, with the motto "preventing drugs is preventing the crime of all crimes".

In particular, the highlight is the implementation of the Project to build "Non-drug-free border communes" in 27/27 border communes - a breakthrough and unprecedented project, receiving the consensus, support and very synchronous and drastic participation of the entire political system from the province to the grassroots. After completing the construction of 27/27 border communes meeting the criteria of "narcotic-free border communes", it has been expanded to 21/21 districts, cities and towns with 185 communes and 11 districts registered to build in 2023. To date, 168 more communes and 3 district-level localities (Hoang Mai town, Thai Hoa town and Nghia Dan district) have met the criteria of "narcotic-free border communes".

The above important results have contributed to creating a solid “shield” and “border belt” of clean drugs, moving towards preventing supply, reducing demand, and pushing drugs out of the community. Contributing to the above results, there is the silent, tireless contribution of the Drug Crime Investigation Police of Nghe An Public Security.

The war on the front to repel the white death has always been defined as a long-term battle, increasingly fierce and fierce. On the front line, there must be losses and sacrifices. In addition to the faces that have been rewarded and honored, there are many cadres and soldiers whose names are not convenient to be mentioned, who accept hardships for themselves, but "avoid glory", always wholeheartedly "loyal to the Party, filial to the people". Putting aside the pain, the hardships, they are always ready to "go anywhere, do anything when the Fatherland needs" to bring a peaceful and happy life to the people.