Nghe An Customs striking in the front of anti-drugs

Lau Ba Xia and the drugs at investigation agency. Photo: Nguyễn Đức

The Covid-19 pandemic has caused the suspension of import-export activities through the province, however, illegal drug traffickers and traders took advantage of this pandemic to increase transportation. Especially, at the end of April and early May 2020, when the Covid-19 pandemic was basically under control, inter-provincial vehicles were partly back to operation, subjects joined the drugs lines tend to flare up. Through forecasting the situation, authorities realised the situation of drug trafficking in border areas adjacent to Laos along Highway 48 passing through mountainous districts to inland for sale would have complex developments.

From the beginning of 2020, a series of major drug projects have been closed by Nghe An Customs in collaboration with Police and Border Defence forces and arrested many subjects.

Most recently, at 9:00 on May 22 at Khe Nan village, Chieu Luu commune, Ky Son district, Nghe An province, Anti-Drug Enforcement Team (Nghe An Customs) coordinated with the Ky Son district police to arrest Lau Ba Dia (was born in 1974, residing in Truong Son village, Nam Can commune, Ky Son district, Nghe An province) for illegal transportation of 194,000 synthetic drugs, 1,999 grams of meth and 703 grams of heroin.

Previously, on May 9, at Khe Nan Bridge in Chieu Luu Commune, Nam Can International Border Gate Customs Branch (Nghe An Customs) in coordination with Ky Son District Police caught three people including Hoang Van Hai (was born in 1990), Trang A Vu (was born in 1992) and Thao A Su (was born in 1992), all residents of Nam Dam village, Cao Tan commune, Pac Nam district, Bac Kan province for transporting 20 kg of heroin, 20 bricks of heroin, 3,581 grams and 4 kg of ketamine and four mobile phones.

Talking to reporters of Customs News, Nguyen Sy Hoang, Deputy Director of Nghe An Customs Department, said in the first half of 2020, drug-related crimes in the area increased seven cases compared to 2019. In particular, the number of seizure exhibits increased many times over the same period in 2019 as well as many years ago. To strictly control the situation of this criminal activity, the unit directed customs branches to coordinate with competent forces in the area, especially the Vietnam - Laos border forces to carry out attacks on drug trafficking, transportation and consumption centers.

The unit also strengthened customs inspection and control in Ky Son, Que Phong, Tuong Duong and Thanh Chuong districts to prevent, detect and arrest drug traffickers and transportation in large-scale lines, organising transnational activities. Simultaneously arrange staff to perform duty 24/7 in the management area; patrolling, controlling and investigating to grasp the situation on both sides of the side border gate; strengthen scanning through luggage scanning machines and use dogs to detect narcotics. Promoting communication to people crossing border gates and surrounding areas to understand the harms of drugs, encourage people not to cover and abet drug-related crimes; do not transport, trade, store and use narcotics.