8 Vietnamese and Lao provinces signed a Memorandum of Cooperation on Drug Crime Prevention and Control
(Baonghean.vn) - The signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between 8 Vietnamese and Lao provinces in the fight against drugs aims to gradually push back this crime and further promote the solidarity and friendship between the two peoples of Vietnam and Laos.
On the morning of September 16, in Cua Lo town, a conference on drug prevention and control of 8 provinces of Vietnam and Laos took place.
Attending the conference were representativesMinistry of Public Security of Vietnam;Lao Ministry of Security in Vietnam; representatives of leaders of 4 provinces: Hua Phan, Phong Sa Ly,Xieng Khouang, Luang Prabang (Lao PDR); provincial leaders:Dien Bien, Son La, Thanh Hoa and Nghe An
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| Representatives of Nghe An province attended the conference with comrade Thai Thanh Quy - Alternate member of the Party Central Committee, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee. Photo: Thanh Le |
Effective coordination between 8 Vietnamese and Lao provinces
After the 18th meeting between 8 provinces in 2018 held in Thanh Hoa province, high-ranking agencies and local authorities of Vietnam and Laos issued many documents to strengthen coordination in the fight against crime and drug abuse, thereby gradually controlling, preventing and reducing these abuses.
The leaders of the Party Committees and authorities of the provinces have had close relations, regularly coordinated information exchange, resolved issues related to the socio-economic situation of each province, the general security and order situation in the border area, and paid special attention to directing the functional forces to strengthen coordination in drug prevention and control.
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| Chairman of Nghe An Provincial People's Committee Thai Thanh Quy speaks at the conference. Photo: Thanh Le |
The provinces have proactively implemented the contents of the Memorandum of Understanding at the 18th conference in 2018. Organizing conferences, meetings, talks, exchanging information on the situation of security and order, crime and drug abuse, as well as increasing investment, supporting equipment, funding, means and forces for drug prevention and control work, has achieved many important results.
The specialized forces in charge of drug prevention and control in each province have proactively and actively organized coordination activities and effectively implemented professional plans to combat crimes of drug trafficking and transportation across the border.
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| Representatives from Xieng Khouang province (Laos) spoke at the conference. Photo: Thanh Le |
The provinces have created favorable conditions for people on both sides of the border to exchange goods, strengthen and foster the special comprehensive friendship between Vietnam and Laos in general, and between border provinces in particular; at the same time, actively propagandize and mobilize people not to listen to propaganda that divides national solidarity in the border areas between the two countries.
The anti-drug forces of 8 provinces arrested and handled 4,244 cases, 5,402 subjects (an increase of 113 cases = 2.7%, an increase of 262 subjects = 5.1% compared to 2018). The total amount of evidence seized 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 fruit and plants (with a total of 2.26 tons of drugs of all kinds) and many other evidences and assets related to drug-related crimes.
Drug crimes are potentially complex.
The conference also pointed out that the situation of drug crimes along the Vietnam-Laos border in general and the Vietnam-Laos border in 8 provinces in particular continues to be complicated. Drug criminals are still active, large-scale, tightly organized, transnational and increasingly serious.
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| Signing of Memorandum of Understanding between 8 provinces of Hua Phan, Luang Prabang, Phong Sa Ly, Xieng Khouang (Laos), Nghe An, Thanh Hoa, Son La, Dien Bien (Vietnam). Photo: Thanh Le |
Many drug trafficking routes with large quantities from the “Golden Triangle” area gather at the Vietnam-Laos border, then connect with a number of Vietnamese people to form many routes for buying and selling, transporting drugs across the border for consumption, or continuing to transport to third countries. Drugs are smuggled through unofficial channels and take advantage of legal transportation of goods through border gates between provinces to bring drugs into Vietnam.
The subjects operating in drug trafficking and transportation lines in the border areas of the two countries are mainly Lao and Vietnamese. The subjects thoroughly take advantage of their kinship and family relationships with the Mong ethnic people living in the border areas of the two countries to operate.
The results of the fight against drugs on the border have not yet met practical requirements. The source of smuggled drugs from outside into each province and to other provinces for consumption is still very large, but the amount of drugs discovered and seized has not yet reflected the reality.
According to the report, currently in the 8 provinces of Hua Phan, Luang Prabang, Phong Sa Ly, Xieng Khouang (Laos), Nghe An, Thanh Hoa, Son La, Dien Bien (Vietnam), there are 45,585 drug addicts with management records (Nghe An province has 6,823 people, Thanh Hoa province has 7,472 people, Dien Bien province has 9,139 people, Son La province has 9,176 people, Hua Phan province has 4,724 people, Xieng Khouang province has 2,143 people, Luang Prabang province has 3,663 people, Phong Sa Ly province has 2,445 people).
Focus on implementing the signed contents
At the conference, delegates seriously evaluated the achieved results, frankly pointed out the shortcomings, difficulties and obstacles in the coordination of drug prevention and control work in the past year, and at the same time forecasted and assessed the trends and developments of drug-related crimes in the coming time.
In particular, the Conference discussed and agreed to propose a program of coordination in drug prevention and control in the coming time, which is reflected in the Memorandum of Understanding signed between the provinces.
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| Leaders of Nghe An province presented gifts to Lao provinces. Photo: Thanh Le |
Speaking at the conference, Chairman of Nghe An Provincial People's Committee Thai Thanh Quy emphasized that the organization of the conference on drug prevention and control coordination is an opportunity for provinces and drug prevention and control forces of the two countries to learn and exchange experiences.
This is also an opportunity for both sides to better understand the country, people, and long-standing cultural traditions of the two brotherly countries of Vietnam and Laos, contributing with the Party and State of the two countries to strengthen the solidarity, friendship, and comprehensive cooperation between the two peoples.
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| Representatives of Laos presented souvenirs to Nghe An province. Photo: Thanh Le |
"We hope that in the coming time, each locality needs to focus on further promoting the solidarity and friendship between the two peoples of Vietnam and Laos. The Steering Committee for Crime Prevention of 4 provinces of Vietnam and the Drug Control Committee of 4 provinces of the Lao PDR need to focus on directing sectors, levels, and social organizations to well implement the 8 signed contents" - Chairman of Nghe An Provincial People's Committee Thai Thanh Quy emphasized.