Ha Tinh Customs tackles drug gangs

	Ha Tinh Customs: difficult to reach the collection target
	Ha Tinh Customs: Coordinate to seize six people and large haul of drugs
	Ha Tinh Customs coordinate to arrest a man carrying heroin

Ha Tinh Customs Department arrested a man transporting 9,800 drug tablets on December 12 at Cau Treo International Border Gate. Photo: T.M

Successfully tackling 18 specialised cases

In recent years, forces in Nghe An province have tackled drug crime organisations and gangs, thereby, drug transporters and traffickers have moved to operate in the north- central coast region, including Ha Tinh province. In Ha Tinh area, drug trafficking gangs often abuse rugged mountain roads and complex terrain to transport drugs across borders.

According to representatives of Ha Tinh Customs Department, at Cau Treo International Border Gate, perpetrators take advantage of preferential policies to transport drugs across checkpoints. Some people (mostly people from other provinces) who return from Laos or other people take advantage of tours from Laos to Vietnam to hide drugs in their luggage to transport them to Vietnam.

Besides Cau Treo International Border Gate area, there are many international means of transport in Vung Ang Economic Zone and highway 12A. Thereby, smuggling and drug transportation in areas is increasingly complex.

Facing this situation, Customs has arranged and added more customs officers and used supportive tools for drug prevention forces.

Through taking measures to tackle drug gangs in the area, Ha Tinh Customs Department has successfully tackled 18 specialised cases and seized 124,338 ecstasy tablets, 280 packages and 707.36 grams of heroin, 966.003 kg of methamphetamine, 10 kg of all kinds of drugs, 20 kg of fresh opium poppy and fruit, and other infringing goods. This result has shown the efforts of Ha Tinh Customs Department in anti-smuggling in 2019.

Typically, on December 12, at the exit and entry border gate of Cau Treo International Border Gate, Ha Tinh Customs worked with the Ha Tinh Border Guard and Market Surveillance forces to arrest Vu Van Quy, born in 1993, hometown in Vien Thanh commune, Yen Thanh district, Nghe An province driving a passenger car with license plate No. UN 4555 from Vientiane to Hanoi and transporting 49 plastic packages containing 9,800 ecstasy tablets.

Promoting information

According to Dinh Van Hoa, Deputy Director of Ha Tinh Customs Department, in 2019, the department coordinated with the Anti-Smuggling and Investigation Department of the General Department of Vietnam Customs and agencies in the area to publicise the harmful effects of drugs to the people. Specifically, on June 7, the department worked with the Anti-Smuggling and Investigation Department and the People's Committee of Kim Son 2 Commune to hold a meeting to publicise with more than 600 participants at Kim Son 2 Station. The meeting raised awareness about drug dangers for union members, youths, organisations, businesses, civil servants, workers and people in Kim Son 2 Commune. The meeting also promoted coordination between forces and localities, units socio-economic organisations based in Ha Tinh province in the fight against drugs.

According to Ha Tinh Customs Department, after publicity in Huong Son District, many small drug dealers gave up drug trafficking or do not operate as much as previously, many dealers focused on family economic development. The coordination and publicity between forces is increasingly close and effective. Therefore, the number of arrests and quantity of seized drugs increased. Drug gangs and organisations that are tackled thanks to information from the people increased.

From June until now, Ha Tinh Customs has worked with forces in Huong Son area to destroy two specialised cases and two cases; seized 62 heroin bricks, 12,194 ecstasy tablets and 47 kg methamphetamine.

According to Dinh Van Hoa, in the near future, Ha Tinh Customs will take the initiative in developing and implementing coordination regulations and plans between Customs with agencies such as Police and Border Guard. Ha Tinh will strengthen publicity and warn of the harmful effects of smuggling, trade fraud and illegal transportation of goods across border gates for the economy in border areas. Thereby, persuading the people not to smuggle, abet smuggling and actively denounce drug crimes.

According to Ha Tinh Customs Department, after publicity in Huong Son District, many small drug dealers gradually gave up drug trafficking or no longer operated as freely as before, many dealers focused on developing family economy. Coordination and information between forces is closer and more effective. Therefore, the number of seizures and the amount of seized drugs increased. The number of drug gangs and organisations that are tackled thanks to information from the people is increasing.

To ensure the effective prevention and fight against smuggling and trade fraud, Ha Tinh Customs Department has deployed measures and coordinated to patrol, supervise and strengthen information collection and exchange with other authorities in the locality, and predictions, and focused on key subjects and areas and discovered new tricks and methods of smuggling and trade fraud.