Deputy Prime Minister Le Thanh Long attended a rally in Nghe An to mark the Month of Action against Drug Abuse.

Attending the ceremony, on behalf of the Central leadership were: Comrade Le Thanh Long - Member of the Central Committee of the Party, Deputy Prime Minister of the Government, Chairman of the National Committee for AIDS, Drug and Prostitution Prevention and Control; Lieutenant General Le Quoc Hung - Member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam, Deputy Minister of Public Security; along with the Vice Chairmen of the National Committee for AIDS, Drug and Prostitution Prevention and Control and leaders of relevant ministries and sectors.

Representing Nghe An province were: Mr. Nguyen Duc Trung - Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee; Mr. Nguyen Nam Dinh - Member of the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee, Permanent Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Council; Mr. Le Hong Vinh - Member of the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee, Permanent Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee; along with leaders of departments, agencies, and organizations that are members of the Steering Committee 138 and leaders of districts, cities, and towns.

Representatives from the provinces of Dien Bien, Son La, Thanh Hoa, Ha Tinh, Quang Binh, Quang Tri, Thua Thien Hue, Quang Nam, and Kon Tum attended the ceremony.

Building "Drug-free districts, cities, and towns"

The 2024 Anti-Drug Action Month has the theme "Joining hands to build drug-free communes, wards, and towns."

In his welcoming remarks at the opening of the rally, the Standing Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, Le Hong Vinh, emphasized that drugs are a threat to every family, every nation, and the entire world.

Crime and drug abuse cause immense harm to the economy, politics, and society, destroying health, degrading the human race and dignity, ruining family happiness, and seriously affecting security, order, and social safety.

Crime and drug abuse are the main causes of various crimes such as theft, robbery, murder, fraud, extortion, and public disorder.

To create a healthy and thriving living environment, Nghe An province identifies ensuring security, order, and social safety, including drug prevention and control, as an important, urgent, and ongoing task, alongside socio-economic development and national defense and security.

Over the past period, drug prevention and control efforts in the province have achieved many important results. Drug-related crimes and social ills have been contained, reducing both their nature and complexity. Dozens of drug trafficking rings and criminal groups have been apprehended. Many areas and hotspots previously known for drug activity have been transformed.

Drug rehabilitation and post-rehabilitation management have yielded positive results; the re-cultivation of opium poppies has been completely prevented. In particular, the awareness and sense of responsibility of each citizen towards the fight against drug-related crimes and social evils have been increasingly enhanced.

After more than two years of implementing and expanding the project to build "Drug-Free Border Communes," the entire province now has 227 out of 460 communes recognized as "drug-free," including 5 districts that have achieved 100% of their communes being "drug-free."

To date, an additional 76 communes have met the two criteria of "free from drug trafficking networks, hotspots, and complex drug-related issues" and "free from drug addicts," and the results are currently being assessed by the Provincial Police according to regulations.

Emphasizing that the situation regarding crime and drug abuse remains significant and complex, the Standing Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, Le Hong Vinh, urged all levels, sectors, and functional organizations in Nghe An province to resolutely and actively implement solutions to prevent and combat drug abuse.

All levels, sectors, and organizations need to coordinate closely with the Provincial Police to implement and expand the effectiveness of the Project to build "Drug-Free Border Communes," aiming towards building "Drug-Free Districts, Cities, and Towns"; acting together and further enhancing the role and responsibility of each citizen. Nghe An province, along with localities nationwide, will resolutely contain and repel the threat of drugs.

At the rally, the Chairman of the People's Committee of Bac Ly commune (Ky Son district) shared experiences and best practices in implementing and expanding the project to build a "Drug-Free Border Commune" in the area.

Working together to create "a drug-free border zone"

Speaking at the rally, Deputy Prime Minister Le Thanh Long emphasized the enormous harm that drugs cause to individuals, society, and the stability, development, and survival of the country and nation.

Recognizing the reality and dangers of drugs, over the years, the Party and State of Vietnam have issued numerous guidelines, policies, and laws, outlining comprehensive tasks and solutions to address the "demand," strongly combat the "supply," and minimize the risks and harms of drugs.

The Deputy Prime Minister commended the determination and efforts of the leaders, Party committees, and authorities at all levels of Nghe An province, especially the collectives and individuals who have achieved outstanding results in implementing and expanding the Project to build "Drug-Free Border Communes" in the past period.

The organization and replication of the "Drug-Free Border Commune" model is a good and innovative approach in drug prevention and control at the grassroots level; thereby aiming to build "drug-free border districts," creating a solid "shield" and "drug-free border belt," which has been concretized by outstanding results and achievements in the past two years.

Emphasizing that the drug crime situation in our country is expected to continue to be complex, Deputy Prime Minister Le Thanh Long requested ministries, sectors, and localities to continue leading and directing, and to promote the role and responsibility of leaders in resolutely and effectively implementing the directives of the Party, the National Assembly, the Government, and the National Committee on drug prevention and control.

Strengthen drug prevention and control propaganda; organize the development and replication of model projects; drug-free communes, wards, and towns; and work towards building drug-free districts and provinces.

In this context, border provinces should study and learn from Nghe An's experience to develop and implement measures in their own localities that are appropriate to their specific situation and conditions; thereby creating "a drug-free border zone" and enhancing the ability to prevent the infiltration and smuggling of drugs from outside into the interior.

The Deputy Prime Minister suggested that there needs to be close coordination between prevention and control, between reducing supply, reducing demand, and reducing the harm caused by drugs. He emphasized strengthening efforts to combat and prevent the "supply sources," and dismantling hotspots where illegal drug use is organized.

On the other hand, it is necessary to enhance the effectiveness of international cooperation in drug prevention, control, and combating with other countries and international organizations, especially with countries sharing borders, countries in the region, and developed countries.

On this occasion, the Minister of Public Security awarded Certificates of Commendation to 8 collectives and 4 individuals from Nghe An province; the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee awarded Certificates of Commendation to 4 collectives and 6 individuals for their outstanding achievements in implementing and expanding the Project to build "Drug-Free Border Communes".