Drug Enforcement Team, Hanoi Customs Department: Stopping drug trafficking by air

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Nearly 20 kg of drugs disguised under cover of beer cans were discovered by Hanoi Customs

Close cooperation to achieve success

Air and express delivery are recently emerging as complex routes for drug trafficking, especially at international airports such as Noi Bai (Hanoi) and Tan Son Nhat (HCMC).

Smugglers have taken advantage of express delivery and international transportation by air through the airport border gate or post to illegally bring drugs from abroad to Vietnam.

Especially from early 2022, by profiling, Hanoi Customs Department has received many sources of information about many county lines from Europe and America to Hanoi, Vietnam by air, through Noi Bai international airport border gate, forwarded to My Dinh, Gia Thuy checkpoints under Hanoi North Customs Branch, Gia Thuy Customs Branch and then the goods are delivered in many places in the country.

Faced with that situation, the Hanoi Customs Department has proactively established special cases to fight against drug trafficking from abroad to Vietnam. Hanoi Customs has assumed the prime responsibility and coordinated with: The drug-related Crime Investigation Police Department (C04), Drug-related Crime Investigation Police Division, Hanoi City Police (PC04); Northern Region Anti-Smuggling Enforcement Team (Team 5), Southern Region Anti-Smuggling Enforcement Team (Team 6) under the General Department of Customs and relevant units to build fighting plans. Accordingly, the competent authorities destroyed many drug trafficking cases from Germany, the Czech Republic and the Americas, Hanoi, and Vietnam.

Deputy Director of Hanoi Customs Department Nguyen Truong Giang said that to make a breakthrough in the fight against drug crimes, the Customs has taken many measures, such as collecting information from the inland country and abroad on acts and tricks of concealing drugs. Especially in personnel work, the customs have arranged well-experienced officials in key stages and physical inspection of goods at the border gate; regularly coordinated with other authorities to warn of new tricks. At the same time, the specialized drug enforcement force has actively collected information, established special projects, and coordinated with the police to promptly arrest domestic and foreign suspects and gangs.

The outstanding mark of the Drug Enforcement Team, in particular, and the Hanoi Customs Department, is the Special Project HC422 presided over by the Hanoi Customs Department. At the beginning of April 2022, Hanoi Customs established a special project to combat crimes of drug trafficking from Europe to Vietnam in collaboration with: C04, Team 5 under the Anti-Smuggling and Investigation Department and related units.

The competent authorities discovered suspicious signs for a shipment from Germany sent to Bim Son, Thanh Hoa, so they organized reconnaissance, investigation and research activities to grasp the situation. The HC422 Special Committee successfully strengthened forces to solve the case in April 2022, arrested and prosecuted two persons, and seized 16,538 kg of MDMA synthetic drugs.

The outstanding special project is HC522, chaired by Hanoi Customs Department. This is a special project with the close coordination of the Customs and Police, breaking down the drug gangs in many provinces and cities, seizing many narcotics and arresting many suspects. On May 13, 2022, in Da Nang, Quang Binh, the authorities arrested three suspects (including one leading foreign supplier) and seized 3.2 kg of MDMA synthetic drugs; on May 13, in Ho Chi Minh City, the authorities arrested five suspects and seized 25kg of MDMA synthetic drugs; on May 27 in Ho Chi Minh City the authorities arrested two suspects and seized 15kg of MDMA synthetic drugs; On May 30, in Ho Chi Minh City, the authorities arrested two suspects and seized 2kg of MDMA synthetic drugs.

Resolutely fight against drug crime

Following the success, Hanoi Customs Department achieved many remarkable results in the fight against drug crimes. The typical is the success of Project HP323. On February 20, 2023, the Drug Enforcement Team coordinated with PC04 of Hanoi City Police; Noi Bai International Airport Customs Branch; Team 5 under the Anti-Smuggling Investigation Department; and related forces to inspect six consignments. As a result, the authorities discovered 101.000 grams of MDMA synthetic drug and about 7.000 grams of Ketamin in plastic bags labelled with brands of confectionery, flour and coffee sent from Poland to Hanoi, Vietnam. One was arrested.

On May 4, 2023, in Long Hung commune, Van Giang district, Hung Yen province, the Drug Enforcement Team presided over and coordinated with PC04- Hanoi City Police; Police of Long Hung, Van Giang, Hung Yen communes to check six packages and identified infringing goods hidden in 80 beer cans, packed in two white plastic bags inside two black plastic bags sent from the Netherlands to Hanoi. The infringing goods included about 14,602 grams of MDMA synthetic drugs; about 5,282 grams of Ketamine; two suspected were arrested.

According to the leader of the Hanoi Customs Department, the fighting against drug crimes is always closely guided by the leaders at all levels, as well as supported by close coordination between the Hanoi Customs and C04 and the police agencies of many provinces and cities, thereby jointly establishing many victories, affirming the leading role of the Customs force on the front of drug prevention and control.