Drug-related crimes are having an unpredictable transformation

May 26, 2024, at the Nam Giang International Border Gate Joint Control Station, Nam Giang Customs Branch (Quang Nam Customs Department), Anti-Smuggling Enforcement Team in the Central Region - Anti-smuggling and Investigation Department (General Department of Vietnam Customs), Nam Giang International Border Gate Border Guard Station discovered and seized nearly 200 kg of drugs.

Seized huge quantities

The Border Guard Command has observed that drug trafficking activities are undergoing a "transformation" to adapt to the increasingly stringent controls imposed by law enforcement agencies. In recent times, there has been a surge in the transportation of drugs from Laos into Vietnam through border provinces in the Northwest, North Central, and Central Highlands regions. Additionally, drugs are being trafficked from Cambodia through border areas in Tay Ninh, Long An, and Dong Thap provinces into Ho Chi Minh City and other inland provinces.

Particularly noteworthy is the rise in heroin and synthetic drug trafficking through certain road border crossings between Vietnam and Laos, and between Vietnam and Cambodia. These incidents often involve significant quantities of illicit substances.

In addition to the complex situation along the land borders, drug trafficking via maritime routes is also becoming increasingly sophisticated. International drug trafficking organizations are utilizing vessels to navigate to international waters adjacent to Vietnamese waters, where they engage in drug sales, handovers, or drop off drug-laden packages with GPS trackers to facilitate retrieval at designated locations.

According to the statistics, since the beginning of 2024, Border Defence Forces in seven coastal provinces in Central and Southern Vietnam have detected 31 drug trafficking cases and seized 542 kg of drugs. This is a significant increase compared to the 16 cases detected from 2019 to 2023.

According to the Command of Border Defence, drug trafficking activities in Central Vietnam, particularly from Nghe An to Quang Tri and Quang Nam, have been particularly intense in the first half of 2024. Statistics indicate that at the Cau Treo International Border Gate in Ha Tinh province, law enforcement agencies have promptly detected and prevented 7 drug trafficking cases across the border, arresting 20 suspects and seizing hundreds of kilograms of various types of drugs. Notably, the number of drug trafficking cases has increased compared to the same period last year, and the amount of drugs seized has also been higher.

Notably, on May 6, in Son Kim 1 commune, Huong Son district, Ha Tinh province, the Border Guard's Drug Interdiction and Crime Prevention Department in coordination with the Border Guard's Gate Department and Ha Tinh Border Guard Forces arrested 6 Lao nationals and seized 121 kg of synthetic drugs. Next, on May 9, in Son Kim 1 commune, Ha Tinh Border Guard Forces in coordination with Ha Tinh Customs arrested 2 Lao nationals and seized 69.5 kg of drugs.

In Quang Tri, since the beginning of 2024, numerous drug trafficking rings have been detected and dismantled along the border area, involving large quantities of drugs. On May 23, in A Ngo commune, Dakrong district, the PCMT&TP BĐBP in coordination with the Border Guard's Gate Department and Quang Tri Border Guard Forces arrested 5 suspects and seized 100 heroin bricks. On March 30, in Tan Long commune, Huong Hoa district, Quang Tri Border Guard Forces took the lead in coordination with the PCMT&TP Special Forces Group of the Central region, Quang Tri Public Security and Customs, arresting 9 Lao nationals and seizing 100 kg of synthetic drugs.

In Quang Nam, Border Guard Forces and Customs have also dismantled a drug trafficking ring, arresting 8 Lao nationals who were transporting 44 heroin bricks and 181.75 kg of various types of drugs.

Need to think "fighting drugs" with intelligence and technology

A report by the Border Guard's Drug Interdiction and Crime Prevention Department underscores the increasingly sophisticated and interconnected nature of drug trafficking networks. According to the report, drug trafficking rings operate with close ties both domestically and internationally, spanning borders and inland areas. Their methods and techniques have become increasingly elaborate, covering a wide range of activities and involving inter-provincial and transnational operations. The scale of drug trafficking is growing, with larger quantities of drugs being bought and sold, and the nature of the crime is becoming increasingly complex.

According to Lieutenant General Do Ngoc Canh, in addition to traditional methods, drug traffickers are increasingly utilizing information technology and the internet to communicate and make transactions, significantly reducing transaction times and posing challenges for law enforcement in tracking and intercepting their activities.

In response to this evolving threat, Lieutenant General Nguyen Van Thien, Deputy Commander of the Border Defence Forces, has called for a comprehensive approach to combatting drug trafficking. He has urged specialized units to enhance their effectiveness in anti-drug operations, actively improve their professional skills, and maintain a comprehensive understanding of the situation from afar, including beyond borders and at sea. He emphasized the importance of analyzing, forecasting, and accurately assessing emerging drug trafficking trends along each border line. Timely and accurate recommendations and proposals are crucial for proactive measures and effective countermeasures.

Lieutenant General Thien stressed the need to embrace technological advancements, particularly in the application of modern communication equipment, to detect and collect electronic evidence, trace the sources of drug trafficking information, and directly target ringleaders and kingpins. These efforts are essential to effectively disrupt drug trafficking networks from an early stage and prevent the flow of drugs into Vietnam.

Strengthening international cooperation and close coordination with other law enforcement agencies, such as the Police, Customs, and Coast Guard, is also paramount in combating drug trafficking. This includes exchanging information, investigating and detecting crimes, and dismantling complex drug trafficking rings and hotspots in key border areas.