Hanoi Customs proposes several solutions to tackle drugs smuggling by air

The trick of hiding ketamine under the guise of beers was discovered by Hanoi Customs in collaboration with Hanoi Police in May 2023.

Always be cautions

According to Hanoi Customs, drugs are transported from EU countries like the Czech Republic, Poland, Germany, Netherlands,… to Vietnam by air, express delivery, and post for consumption. The subjects operated not only in Hanoi city but also in many cities and provinces in the whole country such as HCM City, Binh Duong, Dong Nai, Da Nang, Quang Binh, Hai Phong, Nam Dinh,…

To fight against drug crimes, from the beginning of the year until now, Hanoi Customs Department has applied drug control measures at all stages and management areas. At the same time, deploying drug control patrols during the peak month from January 1, 2024 to February 29, 2024 at branches: Express Delivery, Noi Bai International Airport Border Gate Customs, Customs North Hanoi Customs and Gia Thuy Customs.

By applying professional measures and close coordination with competent authorities, as of mid-February 2024, Hanoi Customs Department has detected and inspected 25 cases, seizing nearly 108,000 grams of synthetic drug MDMA, more than 41,800 grams of ketamine, 11,363 grams of marijuana, 23 grams of methamphetamine; arrested four subjects. Currently, the cases are being further investigated and handled by the police following the provisions of the law.

Evaluating the fight and prevention of drugs, Director of Hanoi Customs Department Duong Phu Dong shared that customs authority must properly evaluate and assess the situation and firmly grasp the methods of transporting, hiding, and delivering drugs to fight effectively and solve cases successfully and safely. At the same time, firmly grasp the transportation route, carefully research the area, local customs and traditions in the area where the crime is being fought to have a specific plan and estimate situations for handling timely.

In fact, from 2021 until now, the situation of illegal trading and transportation of narcotics by air has become very complicated in the management area of Hanoi Customs Department. Criminals take advantage of the reform, modernization and facilitation policy to illegally trade and transport narcotics with an increasing trend in both nature and level, especially goods passing through Noi Bai International Airport, customs clearance points, extended air cargo warehouses, and express delivery warehouses. Notably, in 2023, the above situation is likely to increase.

Hanoi Customs Department assessed that the main routes of illegal drug traffickers were from European countries (Germany, Czech, England, Netherlands...), South America to Vietnam. When the network was destroyed in one of the key areas, the subjects moved to other countries in the EU and South America to distract them.

At a meeting between the Police and Customs forces in mid-January 2024, Minister of Finance Ho Duc Phoc emphasized that drug prevention and control work is extremely important and vital; the struggle process is very difficult and dangerous. Therefore, only close inter-sector coordination can bring the highest efficiency. The two forces of Police and Customs need to strengthen the coordination, especially the exchange and sharing of information between local Police units, C04, and the Customs sector from the moment of discovery to the process of struggle and destruction.

As an advisory agency to the Government on financial management and state budget, the Ministry of Finance would continue to pay attention to modernizing drug prevention and control equipment. In particular, regarding the improvement of legal policies, it is necessary to individualize the responsibilities of express delivery companies and make information of senders and receivers transparent for quick investigation.

Trace the origin

To improve the effectiveness of drug crime prevention through air and express delivery, Hanoi Customs Department also proposed many coordination solutions between units in the industry, and between the Customs and Police forces. Accordingly, it is necessary to strengthen coordination in two-way information exchange and experience sharing with specialized drug prevention forces and competent agencies, thereby quickly detecting new tricks and drugs.

At the same time, it required specific coordination on the order, procedures, and responsibilities of each force in the process of coordinating and deploying operations when there is information about suspected subjects and shipments related to drugs.

Besides that, the communication, training, and professional training for specialized forces carrying out drug prevention work and branches need to continue to be focused, especially at the time of dissemination and warning of new tricks...

Along with that, according to Hanoi Customs Department, it is necessary to continue to strengthen international cooperation, information exchange, and mutual legal assistance between countries in the field of fighting and preventing drug crimes; coordinate with professional units under the Ministry of Public Security, relevant ministries, branches, and international police agencies to investigate and expand drug cases related to international delivery from abroad to Vietnam through the international airport, trace the origin and arrest the foreign subjects.