Customs - Police cooperate effectively in anti-drug

	Nearly 100kg of drugs sent from Germany to Noi Bai discovered
	Cut off lines of transnational drug-related crime
	Risks from precursors

A suspect and cocaine in the case at Noi Bai airport on June 1, 2023. Photo provided by Noi Bai Customs

Sophisticated and complicated rings

Speaking to the Customs Magazine, many officials in charge of anti-drug of the Customs sector said that transnational drug crimes in the area of customs operations are increasingly complicated to transport drugs from abroad to Vietnam for consumption or transit to a third country.

“Previously, many people still thought that the drug prevention and control work of the Customs force was only conducted at borders and border gates, so the coordination and information sharing in the area was still limited. However, drug crimes have a close connection, forming inter-provincial and transnational lines. For success in anti-drug, it is necessary to have close coordination between competent agencies at both border gates, borders, and inland; and coordination inside and outside the Customs sector. Because, even if there is domestic production of synthetic drugs, the source of precursors is almost always imported. In addition, the majority of drugs consumed domestically also originate from abroad. Therefore, coordination and information sharing are very important to be able to arrest the suspects and drug rings", shared Mr. Tran Van Quang, Head of Customs Enforcement Team No. 2 (Hai Phong Customs Department).

According to Deputy Director of the Anti-Smuggling and Investigation Department (General Department of Customs) Nguyen Van On, thoroughly grasping the direction of leaders at all levels and units, the unit has strengthened coordination with competent agencies, especially the Drug-related Crime Investigation Police Department (C04, Ministry of Public Security) and the Drug-related Crime Investigation Police Agencies at all levels.

“The leaders of the General Department of Customs directed that the Customs authority must be the unit in charge of all cases of smuggling and drug transportation within the area of customs operation. For cases happening outside the customs operation areas, the customs shall work with other agencies, mainly C04”, emphasized Mr. Nguyen Van On.

An official of the Anti-Smuggling and Investigation Department said that recent drug seizures by the Customs showed that drugs have been transported from abroad to Vietnam via airline (in hand luggage or express goods) to many provinces and cities for consumption.

Arresting suspects and seizing exhibits requires a long time to track the suspects. There are rings that have chains in many provinces and cities both in the South and the North, so if there is no close cooperation between the Drug-related Crime Investigation Police force and the local police, the anti-drug will be very difficult.

“Release a long fishing line to catch a big fish”

According to the Director General of Customs Nguyen Van Can, following the direction of the leaders of the Ministry of Public Security and the Ministry of Finance, the Customs worked with the Public Security to arrest many suspects and seize many drug exhibits. This is a very difficult and strenuous job, but Customs makes efforts and determination to implement it.

Typically, on May 26, in Tan Bien ward, Bien Hoa City (Dong Nai) the forces include: Drug Enforcement Team (Hanoi Customs Department); PC04, Trang Bom District Police; Bien Hoa City Police (Dong Nai Provincial Police), PC04 (Hanoi City Police) arrested Vu Minh Phuc (residing in Vinh Cuu district, Dong Nai province) when he was receiving 6.8 kg of synthetic drugs.

Vu Minh Phuc confessed that these drugs were sent from abroad to Noi Bai international airport, then brought to Bien Hoa City by the delivery express.

According to the plan, after receiving the goods, Phuc continued to transport the above drugs to an unknown person in Binh Duong province. However, when Phuc was receiving the package, he was caught red-handed.

Expanding the investigation, Dong Nai Provincial Police urgently arrested Tran Van Tuan (residing in Trang Bom district, Dong Nai). Tuan is a common drug user with Vu Minh Phuc and plays a role in helping Phuc with illegal drug trafficking and transportation.

On April 17, also in Dong Nai area (Long Thanh town, Long Thanh district), authorities: PC04, Police of Long Thanh district (Police of Dong Nai province); PC04 (Hanoi City Police); The Anti-Drug Enforcement Team, Noi Bai International Airport Customs Branch (Hanoi Customs Department) and Team 5 (Anti-Smuggling Investigation Department) caught Nguyen Xuan Thien (from Quang Binh province) red-handed when he had just received the package containing 3.6 kg of synthetic drugs. This drug amount was transported from abroad to Noi Bai international airport and then transported to Dong Nai.

In addition to "releasing long fishing rod to catch big fish", by professional measures, the Customs and Police also arrested several foreigners transporting drugs into Vietnam at the airport.

According to Major General Nguyen Van Vien, Director of the C04 Department of the Ministry of Public Security, in the first months of 2023, the Police and Customs coordinated together to seize three drug cases at Tan Son Nhat Airport and Noi Bai Airport.

Most recently, on June 1, 2023, the authorities caught the Ugandan man in the act of illegally transporting 5.6 kg of cocaine and related evidence, when he had just entered Noi Bai airport.

Nghe An Customs cooperates effectively against drug-related crime

Previously, on January 30, 2023, a Thai man was arrested for carrying 2.4 kg of cocaine, hidden in four storybooks, at Tan Son Nhat airport. On February 19, 2023, at Noi Bai airport, a Gambian man was arrested for carrying 4.9 kg of cocaine.