Nghe An Customs cooperates effectively against drug-related crime

Kha Van Phong and exhibits of the specialized case were arrested by Customs and Nghe An Police on August 2, 2022. Photo: Nghe An Customs

Collaborating to handle 16 cases

According to a representative of the Anti-Drug Enforcement Team (Nghe An Customs Department), the border area of ​​Ky Son, Tuong Duong, Anh Son districts, where Nam Can international border gate is located, is always a "hot spot" for smuggling and illegal transportation of drugs. The drug trafficking lines along the border line are very tight and complicated.

Through investigation, it was found that the suspects took advantage of the State's facilitation policies in investment activities, especially the customs procedures for import and export goods such as using e-customs declarations, applying risk management in channeling, exempt physical inspection of goods, luggage, means of transport, goods in transit to illegally mix and transport narcotics.

In particular, when the Covid-19 pandemic was brought under control, many criminal lines and groups are also equipped with weapons, ready to fight when they were detected by competent forces.

Statistics from Nghe An Customs Department showed that, since the beginning of the year, the Anti-Drug Enforcement Team and Nam Can International Border Gate Customs Branch, have coordinated with the competent forces to detect and handle 16 cases of drug trafficking with 4,525 grams and 37,436 synthetic drug tablets; 1,721 grams and two bricks of heroin; 6,981 grams of meth; a flintlock gun, a bag of muskets, a bag of flintlock ammunition, a flintlock compressor, three homemade guns and 42 bullets of all kinds.

On January 16, 2022, at Xieng village, Mon Son commune, Con Cuong district, PC04 Division (Nghe An Police), Con Cuong district police co-chaired and coordinated with Anh Son district police and Mon Son Border Post (Con Cuong), Anti-Drug Enforcement Team (Nghe An Customs Department) successfully broke the case and arrested Le Van Bon (born in 1989, residing in Bong village, Mon Son commune, Con Cuong district) while he was illegally transporting 30,000 pills of synthetic drugs.

Previously, on January 4, 2022, PC04 Division, Anh Son District Police co-chaired and coordinated with Do Luong District Police, Phuc Son Border Guard Station (Anh Son), Nam Can International Border Gate Customs Branch to close Special Project 989T on fighting to eliminate the drug trafficking line from Laos to Nghe An for consumption, arresting three suspects and seizing 4kg of meth.

Most recently, on August 2, in Na village, Huu Lap commune, Ky Son district, the Working Group of Ky Son District Police chaired and coordinated with the Anti-Drug Enforcement Team successfully solved the special case, arrested Kha Van Phong (born in 1969, residing in Huu Lap commune while he was illegally transporting 2,600 tablets of synthetic drugs; a gun (suspected military gun) and 18 bullets.

Use modern equipment

Talking to Customs News, Mr. Chu Quang Hai, Director of Nghe An Customs Department, said that when the Covid-19 pandemic was under control, the Governments of Vietnam and Laos were allowed to reopen border gates between the two countries. It contributed to promoting socio-economic development between the two countries. The number of people and vehicles crossing the Vietnam-Laos border increased rapidly. Specifically, at Nam Can international border gate, on average every day, about 200 people carried out immigration procedures across the border and 30 vehicles transporting goods carried out clearance procedures. However, along with vibrant economic and trade activities, it was also an opportunity for criminals, especially drug-related crimes to take advantage of trade and transporting drugs across the country.

On that basis, Nghe An Customs has directed its units to strengthen coordination with competent forces in the area and at border gates on Vietnam - Laos border to implement measures for preventing the situation of taking advantage of goods transportation to smuggle drugs into Vietnam. In particular, the customs units at the border gate focus on using modern technical equipment and sniffer dogs to promptly detect people and vehicles secretly transporting drugs.

It is forecast that at the end of the year, illegal drug trafficking and transportation activities on the border, especially in the western region of Nghe An, will increase.

At this time, the drug enforcement force under Nghe An Customs Department, especially Anti-Drug Enforcement Team and Nam Can international border gate Customs Branch, continue to closely coordinate with police and border forces to prevent and identify key drug-related lines, groups and subjects in order to take measures to fight and prevent effectively the source of smuggled drugs from abroad.