Law

Nghe An strengthens international cooperation in crime prevention and control

Gia Huy • DNUM_CFZAIZCACE 07:37

Nghe An has a land border of 468.281 km, bordering the three provinces of Hua Phan, Xieng Khouang, and Bolikhamxay (Laos). In recent years, the provincial authorities have strengthened international cooperation, actively coordinated with the Lao authorities in the fight against crime, and maintained security and order in the border area.

Supportsupport wanted criminals

According to the assessment at the 2024 Security and Order Cooperation Conference between Nghe An Provincial Police (Vietnam) and the Police of Bolikhamxay, Xieng Khouang and Hua Phan provinces (Laos), in the past time, the Police of the three neighboring provinces have actively supported Nghe An Police in verifying, exchanging information, searching and arresting wanted subjects.

Hội nghị hợp tác bảo đảm an ninh, trật tự năm 2024 giữa Công an tỉnh Nghệ An (Việt Nam) với Công an các tỉnh Bô Ly Khăm Xay, Xiêng Khoảng và Hủa Phăn (Lào). Ảnh tư liệu CTV — Conference on cooperation to ensure security and order in 2024 between Nghe An Provincial Police (Vietnam) and the Police of Bolikhamxay, Xieng Khouang and Hua Phan provinces (Laos). Photo courtesy of CTV

Typically, on August 9, 2024, Tuong Duong District Police presided over and coordinated with the Provincial Police Department, Tam Hop Border Guard Station and Vieng Thoong District Police, Bolikhamxay Province (Laos) to successfully arrest Xong Ba O in Nam Giang Town, Vieng Thoong District (Bolikhamxay Province).

Đối tượng trồn truy nã Xồng Bá Ở tại cơ quan điều tra. Ảnh tư liệu: Phạm Thuỷ — Wanted fugitive Xong Ba O at the investigation agency. Photo: Pham Thuy

Previously, in 2015, Xong Ba O (born in 1990), residing in Pha Lom village, Tam Hop commune, Tuong Duong district, committed the crime of "Violating regulations on forest exploitation, protection and forest product management" but escaped and was wanted by Tuong Duong district police.

After 9 years on the run, Xong Ba O was arrested and extradited to Vietnam.

At the end of July 2024, Ky Son District Police and the Foreign Security Department (Provincial Police) discovered that the especially dangerous wanted criminal Lau Ba Gio, residing in Truong Son village, Nam Can commune, Ky Son district, was hiding in Kham Cot district, Bolikhamxay province (Laos).

Đối tượng truy nã đặc biệt nguy hiểm Lầu Bá Giờ bị bắt sau 10 năm lẩn trốn. Ảnh tư liệu CTV — The extremely dangerous wanted criminal Lau Ba Gio was arrested after 10 years on the run. Photo courtesy of CTV

Lau Ba Gio was wanted by the Ministry of Public Security's Investigation Police Agency on December 17, 2014 for "Illegal drug trafficking" in the case of 18 heroin cakes and the Thanh Hoa Provincial Police Investigation Police Agency issued a wanted decision on December 2, 2018 for "Illegal drug transportation" in the case of 60 heroin cakes.

After 10 years on the run, the subject has had certain changes in appearance and identifying features, but still cannot escape the sights of the authorities.

Under the direction of the provincial police, a working group from the Ky Son district police and the Foreign Security Department went to Laos to follow the trail to find where Gio was hiding.

After many days of ambushing and monitoring the subject's movements, at around 10:15 a.m. on August 3, 2024, at Thong Xen village, Kham Cot district, Bolikhamxay province (Laos), the working group coordinated with Bolikhamxay provincial police to successfully capture Lau Ba Gio despite the subject's fierce resistance.

At the scene, the authorities seized 1,600 synthetic drug pills, 2 guns and a number of other related exhibits.

Previously, on April 4, 2024 in Vientiane City (Laos), the Criminal Police Department, Nghe An Police presided over and coordinated with the Department of Professional Affairs of the Ministry of Public Security, Lao Police and related units to crack a case, successfully arresting two extremely dangerous subjects after 22 years of being wanted.

Hai đối tượng Lương Văn Bún và Lê Văn Điền bị di lý về trụ sở cơ quan Cảnh sát điều tra Công an Nghệ An. Ảnh tư liệu CTV — Two subjects Luong Van Bun and Le Van Dien were transferred to the headquarters of the Nghe An Police Investigation Agency. Photo courtesy of CTV

The two arrested subjects include: Luong Van Bun (born in 1981), permanent residence in Kim Da commune, Tuong Duong district, wanted for the crime of "Murder" (in 2022, due to a land dispute, Bun used a gun to shoot and kill a man living in the same village, then took his wife and children to Laos via illegal routes) and Le Van Dien (born in 1968), permanent residence in Binh Chuan commune, Con Cuong district, wanted for the crime of "Illegal drug trafficking and harboring illegal drug use".

Two subjects Luong Van Bun and Le Van Dien. Photo courtesy of CTV

While living in Laos, the two subjects got to know each other. To conceal their whereabouts, both changed their names and lived in remote mountainous areas to avoid detection by authorities. However, with the support of Lao authorities, the Criminal Police Department (Provincial Police) successfully arrested the two subjects and extradited them to Vietnam for handling according to the law.

It is known that recently, the police of Bolikhamxay, Xieng Khouang and Hua Phan provinces (Laos) have supported Nghe An provincial police to verify, arrest and extradite 11 dangerous wanted criminals to Nghe An.

Uncompromising fight against drug crimes

Due to its proximity to the “Golden Triangle” area with a large amount of drugs produced and processed, drug crime activities in the western border area of Nghe An province are complicated.

Taking advantage of the rugged mountainous border terrain, criminals from both inside and outside the country colluded to form many drug trafficking routes from Laos to Nghe An. Then they were transported to other provinces and cities in the country for consumption.

Khu vực biên giới Tây Nghệ An. Ảnh Google Maps — Western Nghe An border area. Photo: Google Maps

Therefore, strengthening international support and cooperation in preventing and combating crimes in border areas is one of the key contents that the People's Committee of Nghe An province regularly directs.

Including maintaining and improving the effectiveness of the Border Drug Prevention and Control Liaison Office (BLO) located at the Police of Que Phong and Ky Son districts (Nghe An) and Sam To district, Hua Phan province (Laos).

images1897318_blo__1_(1).jpg — Announcement and launching ceremony of the Liaison Office for Drug Prevention and Cross-Border Crime Prevention (abbreviated as BLO Office) in Nghe An province, Ky Son branch on November 8, 2023. Photo: Phan Tuyet

In recent times, in addition to propaganda work, the authorities of Nghe An province have coordinated with the authorities of Laos to deploy many uncompromising solutions to combat drug crimes. Each year, the authorities have discovered and arrested an average of more than 1,200 drug-related crimes; eradicated many drug trafficking and illegal transportation lines from abroad to Vietnam through Nghe An province.

As a specialized force in charge of border management and protection, Nghe An Border Guard has focused on effectively leading and directing the fight against drug crimes in general and drug crimes in particular.

cac-doi-tuong-xong-tong-xo_-xong-tenh-va-tang-vat.-anh-anh-bach-1(1).png — Arrested two subjects Xong Tong Xo and Xong Tenh, both residing in Pha Danh village, Muong Quan district, Hua Phan province (Laos); seized 12 kg of opium resin and 12,000 pink MTTH pills. Photo courtesy of Anh Bach

In 5 years (from 2019 - 2024), Nghe An Border Guard has presided over and coordinated with forces inside and outside the province, including the functional forces of Laos, to arrest 2,097 cases/2,923 subjects; seized 221 cakes + 27.53 kg of heroin, 494.2 kg of crystal meth, 17.96 kg of ketamine, 711,624 pink MTTH pills, 39.68 kg of opium and many other related exhibits.

Bilateral patrol cooperation to ensure border security is also regularly maintained by Nghe An Border Guard in coordination with Lao forces, contributing to maintaining stability, security and order in the border area.

doi-hinh-tuan-tra-song-phuong-bien-gioi-cua-bo-chi-huy-bo-doi-bien-phong-tinh-nghe-an-viet-nam-cung-bo-chi-huy-quan-su-tinh-xieng-khoang-lao-vuot-qua-dia-hinh-phuc-tap.-anhle-thach(1).jpeg — The bilateral border patrol formation of the Border Guard Command of Nghe An Province (Vietnam) and the Military Command of Xieng Khouang Province (Laos) crossed the complex terrain. Photo: Le Thach

In addition, Nghe An Border Guard continues to maintain 21 pairs of twin villages (villages - villages) on both sides of the border; 9 border posts with 8 border guard companies and 1 Lao police station... contributing to building a peaceful, friendly, cooperative and developing border.

doi-tuan-tra-song-phuong-cua-bdbp-nghe-an-va-bo-chi-huy-quan-su-lao-tuan-tra-bien-gioi-viet-lao.-anh-le-thahc(2).jpeg — The Border Guard Command of Nghe An province (Vietnam) coordinated with the Military Command of Xieng Khouang province (Laos) to organize a bilateral patrol of the border section from landmark 406 to landmark 409 of the Vietnam - Laos border. Photo: Le Thach

On the side of Nghe An Police, implementing the direction of the Ministry of Public Security on strengthening cooperation with Laos in drug prevention and control, including the policy of supporting the construction of village police headquarters for border villages in Laos, by the end of 2023, Nghe An Police had completed and handed over and put into use 21 village police headquarters for the Police of 3 provinces of Laos.

Nghe An Provincial Police signed a Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation to ensure security and order in 2024 with the Police of 3 provinces of Bolikhamxay, Xieng Khouang and Hua Phan. Photo courtesy of CTV

At the 2024 Security and Order Cooperation Conference between Nghe An Provincial Police and the Police of Bolikhamxay, Xieng Khouang and Hua Phan provinces (Laos) held in Vinh city on August 16, 2024. The parties agreed to continue to promptly exchange information, proactively prevent, combat, stop, and coordinate in handling drug and human trafficking crimes and subjects; Regularly exchange and coordinate in managing the residence and activities of citizens of the two countries traveling across the border area. Strengthen monitoring and strictly manage subjects and organizations that violate the national security of the two countries.

Previously, in Plan 410/KH-UBND on implementing the plan to implement the Action Month for drug prevention and control in 2024, the People's Committee of Nghe An province directed the relevant agencies to continue to prioritize forces and measures to fight strongly and resolutely against drug crimes on the Vietnam - Laos border; determined to maintain the "green zone", firmly block, not allowing the complicated drug crime situation to recur in the border area.

BĐBP Nghệ An triển khai phương án phòng chống tội phạm — Nghe An Border Guard deploys crime prevention and control plan. Photo: Hai Thuong

In addition to international cooperation in drug prevention and control, the People's Committee of Nghe An province also directed Nghe An's functional forces to actively exchange information and cooperate with Lao forces in preventing and combating human trafficking, illegal migration, smuggling, and cross-border trade fraud; well manage and control activities at Nam Can International Border Gate, and pairs of secondary border gates (Thong Thu - Nam Tay; Thanh Thuy - Nam On) ... to ensure convenience for people on both sides of the border to travel and trade; at the same time, contribute to maintaining frontline security in each country.

Gia Huy