Hanoi Customs on the front line of combating drugs via air route

hiding drugs in canned drinks (Case HP524)

More methods of concealing and transporting drugs

The fight against the trafficking and smuggling of illicit drugs is a hot and fierce battlefront. Along with the development of the global economy and trade, and the trend of globalization, the volume of goods imported and exported and passengers entering and exiting via air has increased rapidly. Drug-related crime have taken advantage of air routes and express delivery services, leading to a rising trend. Hanoi Customs has proactively grasped the situation, promptly establishing special cases and cases to combat the smuggling and trafficking of drugs from abroad into Vietnam. Many transnational drug rings have been busted by Hanoi Customs in collaboration with other law enforcement agencies.

The head of the Anti-drug Enforcement Team (Hanoi Customs) said that from the beginning of the year to July 19, 2024, Hanoi Customs had established 6 special cases; detected and arrested 49 cases, coordinated the arrest of 27 subjects; and seized 732 kg of various drugs. Notably, there were two typical cases, highlighted by Hanoi Customs, which seized the largest number of synthetic drugs ever through air routes.

A typical example is Case HP524. On June 4, 2024, the special case team coordinated to arrest 4 subjects and seized 179 kg of MDMA synthetic drugs. The subjects used the method of hiding drugs in canned drinks that were labeled and packaged like a manufacturer's product, hiring people from other provinces to receive the goods and divide them for transportation to different localities for consumption.

With Case HP724, on July 17, 18, and 19, the special case team coordinated to arrest 5 subjects and seized 116.5 kg of drugs, including 101.8 kg of MDMA and 14.7 kg of ketamine. The subjects hid the drugs in air compressor tanks and wine bags to deceive law enforcement. They hired people to receive the goods, then divided the goods at different points in Hanoi and transferred them to other provinces. When they detected any abnormalities, the subjects were ready to turn off their phones and abandon the goods.

According to the Anti-drug Enforcement Team, in addition to the previous methods, the subjects have now added many new tricks to deceive law enforcement. "Goods are sent from many different European countries before being concentrated for shipment to Vietnam. The packaging used to hide drugs has fake names and addresses that the subjects calculate the journey from abroad to Noi Bai International Airport on weekends, which are days off," said the head of the Anti-drug Enforcement Team.

In addition, they also use technology to control the drug trafficking process. Subjects hire on-demand car services to receive and control through apps, hire people to monitor at the shipping company; use nicknames and hire people to receive on their behalf.... When there are any abnormalities, they abandon the goods and turn off their phones, making it difficult to investigate.

Cooperation in the fight

According to Hanoi Customs, to successfully combat increasingly sophisticated drug-related crimes, the unit has applied many professional measures and frequently changed its combat plans, including collecting domestic and foreign information, especially on acts and concealment methods. The focus is on collecting and evaluating detailed information from domestic and foreign sources, identifying routes, areas, and key targets via air routes. At the same time, applying professional measures and technical means (scanning machines, drug testing machines...) to closely monitor suspicious shipments and subjects... Especially in personnel work, assigning experienced officials to critical stages, inspecting goods at the border gate; regularly coordinating with other forces to warn of new methods.

Drugs were hiden in tank of air compressor (Case HP724)

To combat, and suppress drug-related crimes, according to Hanoi Customs, besides the unit's proactive efforts, coordination is a key factor contributing to the success of the cases. Hanoi Customs has determined that for each case, each drug seizure case is only truly successful when the drug evidence and the subject are discovered and arrested. Accordingly, in these cases, Hanoi Customs has promptly and actively coordinated with the local law enforcement agencies, especially with the Anti-Smuggling and Investigation Department, the General Department of Vietnam Customs; the specialized forces of the Ministry of Public Security, Hanoi City Police and the police of provinces and cities to resolutely fight and arrest many cases of illegal transportation of drugs.

In particular, after each case, Hanoi Customs promptly reviews the experience to further improve the effectiveness of preventing drug-related crimes via air and express delivery.