Many transnational drug trafficking lines busted during “peak month”

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Exhibit of heroin in the Project DT 4.20

"Hot" in all three regions

The representative of the Anti-Smuggling Investigation Department (General Department of Customs) said that in the first months of the year, despite the Covid-19 pandemic, the situation of transnational drug crimes was still complicated. Therefore, not only in the "action month for drug prevention and control in 2020" but the Customs sector has determined that the fight against drug-related crimes is a regular and continuous activity. Thanks to that, large transnational drug trafficking lines were promptly discovered and handled.

Most recently, despite the "peak month" of fighting drug-related crimes, the Customs force continues to handle a major drug case. Specifically, on July 7, in Muong Tung commune, Muong Cha district, Dien Bien province, the Northern Vietnam Drug Control Team - Team 5 (Anti-Smuggling Investigation Department) coordinated with the Drug Control and Prevention Team (Dien Bien Customs Department) and the functional forces of the Drug Crime Investigation Police Department- C04 (Ministry of Public Security), and Police of Dien Bien Province to arrest Hao A Da (born in 1994, residing in Nam Kecommune, Muong Nhe district, Dien Bien province) for transporting 54 heroin packages for consumption.

In particular, in June, the Customs forces took the lead and coordinated to solve many big drug cases.

Typically: on June 29, at Vo Van Kiet Street, in Kim Chung Commune, Dong Anh District (Hanoi), Team 5 collaborated with functional forces of C04, the Command of the Coast Guard and the Dong Anh District Police Department to arrest six suspects (five residents in Dien Bien province and one resident of Cao Bang province) forillegal trafficking of narcotics and seized 54 heroin packages. Notably, the functional forces also seized two guns and seven bullets.

Also at the drug trafficking hot spots in the Northwest border, on the 6, 12, 15, 24 and 25 June, Team 5 and the Drug Control and Prevention Team (Dien Bien Customs Department) coordinated with forces of Police, Border Guards of Dien Bien and Son La Provinces to handle eight cases and eight suspects of illegal trafficking, transporting narcotics, seized 26 heroin packages, 8kg of opium, 152,600 synthetic narcotic pills. Including Project DT 1.20, established and presided by Team 5.

In addition to the Northwest area and the border areas with Laos and Cambodia in the Central region and the South, the situation of drug crimes is still “hot”. The representative of the Anti-Smuggling Investigation Department said that in the "peak month" in the Central region and the South, especially in Ho Chi Minh City, the Customs force participated in handling many big drug cases.

The biggest case on the border of Central Vietnam recently was in Nghe An. On June 26, in Cam Son commune, Anh Son district, the Drug Control Team (Nghe An Customs Department) coordinated with the competent forces of C04, Nghe An Provincial Police and the Border Guard of Nghe An province discovered and arrested Ho Sy Nguyen (born in 1968, residing in Tuong Duong district, Nghe An province) illegally transporting narcotics for consumption, seizing 50kg of methamphetamine and a car.

Previously, on June 24, in the area of Bo Y commune, Ngoc Hoi district (Kon Tum), the Central Anti-Smuggling Control Team - Team 2 (Anti-Smuggling Investigation Department) and the Bo Y international border-gate Customs Sub-Department (Gia Lai-Kin Tum Customs Department) coordinated with the Central Task Force (the Border Guard High Command) and the Bo Y international border guard station (Border Guard of Kon Tum province) to arrest one case and two suspects while transporting drugs for consumption, seizing 1.3kg of synthetic drugs.

In Ho Chi Minh City, on June 16, the Drug Prevention and Control Team and Express Customs Branch (HCMC Customs Department) coordinated with the Southern Region Anti-smuggling Control Team - Team 6 (Anti-smuggling and Investigation Department) and Department of Drug Investigation Police-PC04 (Ho Chi Minh City Police) to check parcels of goods sent from Europe to Ho Chi Minh City via international post and express delivery. As a result, four packages containing drugswere hidden, seizing 9kg of synthetic drug (ecstasy) concealedin candy packages and cloth hangers.

After that, the project was prepared and chaired by C04, on June 20 and June 30, in Ho Chi Minh City, Team 5 collaborated with C04, Ho Chi Minh City Police and the Coast Guard force to arrest 11 suspects for acts of illegal trading, transporting narcotics, seizing 59.3kg of methamphetamine, 18,200 synthetic drugs, seven guns, one grenade, 28 bullets and many other items of relevant evidence.

Enhance the role of Customs sector

The large-scale cases mentioned above shows the effectiveness and the role of the fight against drug crimes of the Customs sector which has been increasingly enhanced. In addition to the Anti-Smuggling Investigation Department, the results of the local customs units are also remarkable. Especially, in many cases, many specialized projects were established and presided by the Customs forces.

It can be seen that the result in "peak month" is the effect of many factors.

From the drastic guidance of the leaders of the General Department of Customs, the professional units have implemented synchronously and drastically professional customs control measures.

They are: strengthening the collection, exchange and analysis of information at home and abroad; organizing basic investigations, verifying the subjects and means related to the illegal trading and transportation of narcotic substances and pre-substances to set up effective projects.

Nghe An Customs coordinates to arrest three people transporting “huge” amount of drugs

Another noteworthy point in recent times is the increase in the use of professional dogs and specialized equipment to check goods, luggage and vehicles crossing the border and to deploy drug prevention and control activities in the implementation of customs procedures. Along with that is to pay attention to the inspection, control and supervision of import and export goods, means of entry, exit and transit at the place of carrying out customs procedures, especially goods being precursors, addictive substances and psychotropic substances in the areas of industrial parks and export processing zones for proactive detection and arrest. On the other hand, coordination with forces: Police, Border Guards, Coast Guard and local authorities continues to be carried out closely and effectively.