HCM City Customs warns on new method of drug trafficking

Under authorization, Director of Ho Chi Minh City Customs Department Nguyen Hoang Tuan and Deputy Director Do Thanh Quang awarded Certificates of Merit from the General Department of Vietnam Customs to 10 groups of Ho Chi Minh City Police in coordinating the seizure of 50 kg of drugs. Photo: T.H

Dealing with the sophisticated methods of drug concealing, drugs enforcement unit – HCM City Customs Department issued document on warnings to border customs branches about new method of drug concealing.

According to the drugs enforcement unit, the illegal importation of narcotic substances from foreign countries into Vietnam is becoming increasingly complex. Traffickers are employing increasingly sophisticated concealment methods to evade detection by law enforcement agencies, particularly customs officials at border gates.

Through intelligence gathering and analysis, the drugs enforcement unit has obtained information about a number of foreign nationals attempting to connect with domestic counterparts to transport narcotics.

To proactively prevent and effectively combat the illicit trade and transport of narcotics, the drugs enforcement unit urges customs branches to exercise vigilance when conducting customs clearance procedures for goods from key routes suspected of being used for drug trafficking.

In the first six months of 2024, Ho Chi Minh City Customs (HCMC Customs) has collaborated with local authorities to uncover 12 drug-related violations, confiscating over 20 kilograms of narcotics and precursor chemicals, and apprehending three offenders.

The majority of these cases involved air freight (7 cases) and postal and express courier services (5 cases).

HCMC Customs intercepted and seized an inbound parcel from Hungary containing numerous tablets suspected to be Methamphetamine and MDMA, weighing a total of nearly 8 kilograms. The parcel was handed over to the Ho Chi Minh City Police Department (PC04) for further investigation, and a "controlled delivery" operation was implemented.

To date, the police agency has investigated and apprehended 17 offenders, seizing over 50 kilograms of various narcotics. In recognition of the units' involvement in these successful operations, Director General of Vietnam Customs Nguyen Van Can, awarded certificates of merit and bonuses to 10 HCM City Police collectives for their outstanding achievements in detecting and coordinating the arrest of drug traffickers.

A subject who received a parcel containing drugs via express delivery was arrested by the Customs agency in coordination with Ho Chi Minh City Police.

HCMC Customs has released a comprehensive analysis of narcotics trafficking trends in 2024, highlighting the prevailing routes, concealment methods, and organizational structures employed by criminal networks.

HCMC Customs has shed light on the evolving nature of narcotics trafficking, highlighting the prevalent routes and modus operandi employed by criminal organizations.

Narcotics primarily originate from the Golden Triangle, transiting through Cambodia and Laos before being smuggled into Vietnam's border provinces and eventually reaching Ho Chi Minh City for distribution and concealment in warehouses located in outlying districts.

Drug traffickers camouflage these illicit substances within various goods and utilize companies established by their members to export them to destinations such as Taiwan, Singapore, and Australia. To evade stringent customs inspections, traffickers often route the drugs through Singapore or the United Arab Emirates (UAE) before reaching their final destination in Australia.

Investigations have revealed that drug trafficking and distribution rings typically operate on a large scale, spanning multiple provinces or even crossing national borders. These organizations exhibit a structured approach with clearly defined roles among members, while masterminds rarely engage directly with their counterparts.

Criminals extensively exploit social media platforms like Zalo, Facebook, and Telegram to facilitate their illicit activities, posing significant challenges for law enforcement agencies in detection and investigation.

Traffickers employ a diverse range of transportation modes, including sea, air, postal services, and express courier services, to smuggle narcotics into Ho Chi Minh City. This complexity and adaptability further complicate control efforts.

HCMC Customs emphasizes the need for enhanced resources, including personnel, vehicles, and specialized equipment, to effectively combat the evolving and multifaceted nature of narcotics trafficking.