Lao Cai Customs cracks down on 3 drug cases under Operation Mekong Dragon

	Lao Cai Customs seizes 6,000 drug pills
	Lao Cai Customs decreases by nearly US$150 million in trade
	Revenue from major imports and exports at Lao Cai Customs plunges

Lao Cai Customs coordinates with other forces to seize more than 4 kg of drugs on October 25, 2023, in Bat Xat district, Lao Cai.

According to Lao Cai Customs Department, implementing the Operation Mekong Dragon phase 5 (from April 15, 2023 to November 16, 2023) under the direction of the General Department of Customs, the unit has strengthened information collection, analysis and assessment on the situation, methods and tricks of smuggling and illegal transportation of drugs and wild animals and plants to identify and warn risks to effectively serve customs inspection, supervision and control, thereby proactively preventing and effectively fighting violations of customs laws.

In addition, Lao Cai Customs Department has developed and taken customs control measures to effectively fight this type of crime, strengthen the use of sniffer dogs to inspect and control luggage and import and export goods, import, entry and exit vehicles to promptly and strictly handle acts of illicit trafficking of drugs and wild animals and plants across the border.

Moreover, the department has regularly coordinated with the Police, Border Guard and local authorities at all levels to effectively fight against smuggling activities, illegal cross-border transportation of drugs and wild animals and plants on key routes and areas;

Timely grasped the situation and developments on border trade management of the Chinese side; effectively applied professional customs control measures such as: strengthening investigation, researching and understanding the situation, and mobilizing the public to participate in preventing and combating smuggling and illegal transportation of goods across borders; collected and researched information about areas, freight routes, incidents, phenomena, means of transport on exit, entry, transit and related people.

Accordingly, Lao Cai Customs Department participated in cracking down on three drug-related violations.

Specifically, on October 25, at km16+600, Provincial Road 156 (section of Muong Do village, Ban Vuoc commune, Bat Xat district), the working group including Bat Xat district police in coordination with the Ban Vuoc commune police, Bat Xat Customs Branch caught Sung Seo Phu (born in 1988, residing in Lung Po village, A Mu Sung commune, Bat Xat district) red-handed for illegal drug trading, seized five packages of opium weighed 4,292kg; one motorbike; one cell phone and many related documents.

In the second case, on July 5, 2023, the working group including representatives of Lao Cai International Border Gate Border Guard Station, Bao Thang District Police (Lao Cai), Customs Enforcement Team (Lao Cai Customs Department) conducted a patrol at Nam Suu village, Ban Phiet commune, Bao Thang district and arrested Nguyen Anh Tuan (born 1973, residing in Coc Leu ward, Lao Cai city) while he was transporting 6,000 pills of synthetic drugs.

In the third case, on June 29, 2023, in the area of Coc Re village, Ban Me commune, Si Ma Cai district, Lao Cai Customs Department in coordination with the Border Guard and Police discovered and arrested Vang Seo Phang (born in 1987) and Vang Seo La (born in 1996), both residing in Si Ma Cai district, while they were transporting seven packages of heroin.