Dual mission of Nghe An border guards

In mid-April, we had the opportunity to follow the officers and soldiers of My Ly Border Guard Station on a patrol and inspection trip. In this border area, more than 300 km from Vinh City, the weather is erratic. During the entire patrol, the jungle rains continuously poured down, soaking the soldiers' uniforms. Since the Covid-19 pandemic broke out, the officers and soldiers here have had to work hard to control the border, both to prevent people from crossing the border to avoid the pandemic and to prevent drugs.

For many months now, the station has coordinated with the local Party Committee and authorities of My Ly and Bac Ly communes (Ky Son) to set up 5 temporary control posts to strictly control the activities of people crossing the border and from outside into the border area. Along with that, patrol and control work has also been strengthened. Strengthening epidemic prevention and effectively implementing crime prevention work, especially drug crimes, has contributed to ensuring security and order in the area.

Border guards discovered 7 people illegally entering the country during the strong outbreak of the epidemic. Photo: Tien Hung

This Border Guard Station manages the area of ​​My Ly and Bac Ly communes with nearly 49 km of border, 9 landmarks, and 7 pairs of stakes. Meanwhile, the people on both sides of the border have long-standing family relationships, so inspection and control of the area also faces certain difficulties. Especially, subjects take advantage of the difficult terrain, the forces of the unit and the locality are performing the task of preventing and fighting the Covid-19 epidemic, to secretly trade and illegally transport drugs from the other side of the border to Vietnam for consumption.

Faced with the above situation, My Ly Border Guard Station has coordinated with local Party committees and authorities of the two communes to increase forces to monitor the area, set up checkpoints on the border to check and control trails and openings, prevent people from illegally crossing the border to prevent and fight the epidemic, as well as proactively fight against all types of crimes, ensuring security and order in the area. Each checkpoint team consists of 6 people (3 border guards, 1 commune health officer, 1 militiaman and 1 commune police officer) with the task of checking and strictly controlling people and vehicles passing through the area. Whenever the checkpoint teams detect people passing through, they take measures to measure body temperature, wash hands with sanitizer, check identification papers, make health declarations... according to regulations.

Sharing with Nghe An Newspaper reporters, Captain Tran Van Cong - Deputy Head of My Ly Border Guard Station said that from the first days of fighting the epidemic, officers and soldiers have proactively propagated through mobile radio and concentrated propaganda to local people on how to prevent and fight Covid-19. The main content is preventive measures, hygiene, how to wear masks... The unit also distributed leaflets, posted propaganda signs, sprayed chemicals in schools; increased forces to grasp the epidemic situation among the people; examined, isolated, quarantined and transferred suspected cases in the area. In particular, attention was focused on cases of people working far away in epidemic areas returning to their hometowns to celebrate the traditional New Year...

In particular, the unit has increased its forces at border checkpoints, especially in the context of thousands of citizens working in Laos and Thailand rushing back to the country to avoid the epidemic. Many people, fearing having to be quarantined for 14 days, have crossed the border illegally. Along with that, the drug crime situation has shown signs of increasing.

Meal in the middle of the forest on patrol, protecting the border. Photo: Tien Hung

Captain Tran Van Cong said that in recent days, the unit has continuously caught cases of drug trafficking across the border. Specifically, on the evening of April 13, in the area of ​​Nhot Kho village, the unit coordinated with the Ky Son District Police to discover and arrest Va Ba Bi, born in 1985, residing in Nhot Kho village, Bac Ly commune, Ky Son district, who was illegally transporting drugs. Evidence seized at the scene included 182 synthetic drug pills and 14.5 grams of heroin. Through investigation, Bi confessed that he was transporting the above amount of drugs from across the border to Vietnam for consumption when he was discovered and arrested by the authorities.

Then on April 17, in the production area of ​​the mountainous people, the station continued to catch Vi Van Nam, born in 1964, registered residence in Cha Nga village, My Ly commune, Ky Son district, in the act of illegally storing drugs. Evidence collected at the scene included 22 compressed synthetic drug pills and 2 grams of opium.

Recently, border guards have increased patrols and controls, both to prevent the epidemic and to stop and arrest drug criminals. Photo: Tien Hung

Thanks to the drastic implementation of strict inspection and control of the area, My Ly Border Guard Station effectively fought against all types of crimes, while strictly inspecting and controlling the area to prevent and fight the Covid-19 epidemic, thereby promptly detecting people illegally crossing the border. Specifically, on April 13, while blocking the trail area, My Ly Border Guard Station and local forces discovered 7 citizens of the same family in Pha Chieng village, My Ly commune, Ky Son district illegally crossing the border, during the period of social isolation according to Directive No. 16 of the Prime Minister. The unit completed the body temperature check and health declaration records and coordinated with local authorities to take them to a centralized quarantine point according to regulations.

My Ly Border Guard Station coordinated with local authorities to set up 5 epidemic prevention checkpoints. Photo: Tien Hung

Major Hoang The Tai - Political Commissar of My Ly Border Guard Station added: The Party Committee and commanders of the unit determined that the most difficult times are when criminals often take advantage to operate. Therefore, the unit has done a good job of keeping a close eye on the area, organizing local forces to block trails and openings, and at the same time promoting the role of village elders, village chiefs, and prestigious people in propagating and mobilizing people to raise their vigilance, be ready to denounce criminals, and coordinate with the Border Guard in fighting to prevent crimes and prevent and control epidemics in the area.

With synchronous measures, My Ly Border Guard Station has effectively fought against all types of crimes, especially drug crimes, while ensuring the implementation of the task of being on standby to inspect and control trails and openings to prevent and fight epidemics in the area under its management, contributing to the completion of the task of protecting border security and sovereignty, and preventing the Covid-19 epidemic.

Tien Hung - Hai Thuong