Nghe An: Achieve effectiveness in coordinating to prevent drugs and prohibited goods

Customs - Border Guard forces arrested Ho Ba Hu and drug evidence on April 8, 2024.

Nghe An Province shares the longest border with Laos in Vietnam, spanning nearly 419 kilometers (over 20% of the total Vietnam-Laos border). This extensive border, which includes 27 communes in 6 districts bordering three Laotian provinces (Bolikhamsai, Xieng Khouang, and Houaphan), presents unique challenges for border security. The presence of one international border gate, one main border gate, three auxiliary border gates, and numerous informal border crossings further complicates the situation.

Nghe An Customs Department and Nghe An Border Guard Command acknowledge that criminals frequently exploit cross-border activities to engage in illegal drug trafficking, smuggling, trade fraud, and the transportation of prohibited goods. Their increasingly sophisticated and daring tactics pose significant challenges to the effective performance of both agencies at border crossings.

Based on relevant legal documents and guidance from higher authorities, the two agencies have proactively developed joint plans for patrolling and controlling border crossing areas, coastal regions, complex terrains, and other high-risk zones. These coordinated efforts aim to promptly detect, combat, and prevent violations of sovereignty, law and order, illegal cross-border activities, smuggling, trade fraud, the illegal transportation of goods, drugs, explosives, harmful cultural materials, and other prohibited items.

In addition, border customs branches, border guard stations, and other specialized units under both agencies have developed joint plans for inspecting and controlling cross-border activities, applying professional methods to combat and prevent criminal activities and legal violations along the two border lines and coastal areas.

Through coordinated efforts, the agencies have successfully detected numerous cases of drug trafficking, smuggling, and the illegal transportation of goods across the border. Detected violations have been strictly dealt with, ensuring that the perpetrators are punished according to the law.

A notable aspect of the joint efforts between Nghe An Customs Department and Nghe An Border Guard Command is their focus on combating drug-related crimes. From 2019 to June 2024, the two agencies have jointly dismantled 27 cases involving 29 drug-related offenders. Nghe An Customs Department led 16 cases, resulting in the arrest of 16 individuals, while Nghe An Border Guard Command led 11 cases, resulting in the arrest of 13 individuals.

In a recent case on April 8, 2024, in the Nam Can area of Ky Son district, a joint operation involving Nam Can International Border Gate Customs Customs Branch, the Drug Prevention and Crime Control Office of Nghe An Border Guard Command, Mon Son Border Guard Station, and Nam Can Border Guard Station successfully apprehended Ho Ba Hu, a 34-year-old resident of Nam Can commune, Ky Son district, for illegally transporting 24,000 synthetic drug pills, weighing a total of 2,239.37 grams. The case was handed over to the police for further investigation and prosecution.

Another notable case occurred on February 7, 2021, when Nam Can International Border Gate Border Guard Station, the Drug Prevention and Crime Control Office of Nghe An Border Guard Command, and Nam Can International Border Gate Customs Customs Branch successfully dismantled case NA 221. They apprehended Tu Ly Vu, a 24-year-old Laotian citizen from Muong Pec district, Xieng Khouang province, for illegally transporting drugs. The seized evidence included 8 bricks of heroin.

In addition to drug trafficking, the two agencies have also collaborated to apprehend numerous cases of smuggling, particularly involving fireworks. On August 9, 2023, at Nam Can International Border Gate, the Nam Can International Border Gate Border Guard Station and Nam Can International Border Gate Customs Branch discovered Le Ngoc Hung, a 30-year-old resident of Nghi Kim commune, Vinh city, Nghe An province, hiding 24 kilograms of fireworks under the mattress of his truck. The individual and evidence were handed over to Ky Son district police for further investigation and prosecution.

On December 8, 2022, the Customs Enforcement Team of Nam Can International Border Gate Customs Branch, Unit 2 of the Anti-Smuggling and Investigation Department of General Department of Vietnam Customs, Nam Can International Border Gate Border Guard Station, and Ky Son district police apprehended Phan Le Đuc (34 years old) and Ho Viet Cuong (31 years old) for smuggling 120 firecracker boxes and 38 bags of firecrackers.