Mekong Dragon VI Campaign leads to over 50 kg of narcotics seized by HCM City Customs

Drugs hidden in hot pot wall seized by Tan Son Nhat International Airport Customs.

According to HCM City Customs, the unit has rigorously followed directives from the General Department of Vietnam Customs, ensuring all subordinate units are aligned with campaign protocols. Each unit gathered intelligence on high-risk individuals, goods, and routes to tailor effective control measures.

The department also ramped up inspections, focusing on non-intrusive methods, and strengthened inter-agency collaboration with Police, Border Guards, Market Surveillance, and the Coast Guard to promptly intercept, seize, and process illegal activities in line with legal standards.

Additionally, HCM City Customs facilitated training sessions, exchanging expertise in drug prevention and control with other local customs units.

These concentrated efforts have paid off. In one year—from April 15, 2023, to September 16, 2024—HCM City Customs intercepted 15 cases involving over 50 kilograms of cannabis, heroin, ketamine, and synthetic drugs.

HCM City Customs noted that narcotics entering HCM City primarily originate from the Golden Triangle (Laos, Cambodia) and are smuggled across Vietnam’s border provinces before being transported through the southwestern and northeastern routes into the city.

Particularly concerning is the influx of drugs from Europe, Africa, and South America entering HCM City via Tan Son Nhat International Airport. These substances often arrive under the guise of “gifts” sent through express delivery services or as “hand-carried” items, presenting a complex challenge for authorities.