The Customs sector continues to fight drug-related crimes

Nghe An Customs Department works with Ky Son police (Nghe An province) to successfully handle a case of transnational drug trafficking.

Many new tricks

At the conference on reviewing tasks in 2021 and deploying tasks for 2022 of the General Department of Vietnam Customs, Director General of Vietnam Customs Nguyen Van Can stressed that the situation of transnational drug-related crimes involved in the customs management area increased with complex development and sophisticated tricks.

Facing that situation, the Director General requested competent forces, especially the specialized anti-drugs enforcement force, to continue to strengthen the implementation of professional measures to improve the effectiveness of the fight in order to promptly detect and handle violations.

In the recently issued Plan on drug prevention and control in the 2021-2025 period, the General Department of Vietnam Customs has made many identifications on methods and tricks of transnational drug lines.

Typically, drugs are hidden in clothes and in the hand luggage of passengers on exit and entry with a small amount to moderate quantities.

Also, drugs are concealed in private vehicles, vehicles are reinforced to transport passengers on entry in the form of family visits and regular travel and vehicles transporting goods in transit.

Notably, the situation of drugs mixed and disguised in ordinary goods and gifts such as confectionery, milk sugar, water, fruits, electronic goods, speaker boxes, and amplifiers are becoming more common.

The suspects take advantage of the border areas with dangerous terrain to carry out drug deliveries at night, thus forwarders do not know each other, and they use weapons to fight against competent forces.

A number of other tricks are used as "fronts" or "covers" to trade and transport drugs across the country such as: declaring names under the names of newly-established enterprises, authorized economic operation (AEO) to act as a front; thereby exporting and importing goods in which drugs are mixed or hidden. They also imported equipment and precursors for the production and preparation of illegal drugs.

In addition, the illegal use of precursors to prepare synthetic drugs is also a matter of great concern.

Drug prevention

Regarding areas at high risk of drug-related crimes, on the land border, it focuses on border gates in provinces bordering China, Laos and Cambodia such as Dien Bien, Lang Son, Lao Cai, Cao Bang, Ha Giang, Thanh Hoa, Nghe An, Ha Tinh, Quang Binh, Quang Tri, Gia Lai, Long An, Binh Phuoc and Tay Ninh.

For international sea routes, seaports and river ports, it focuses on seaports with large cargo traffic in provinces and cities such as Quang Ninh, Hai Phong, Da Nang, and Ho Chi Minh City, Ba Ria - Vung Tau; the river route area in provinces such as An Giang, Dong Thap and Kien Giang

Air routes, post offices and express delivery focus on Noi Bai, Da Nang, Cam Ranh and Tan Son Nhat international airports; Hanoi Post Offices, Ho Chi Minh City Post Offices; express warehouses.

Faced with that situation, in the Plan on drug prevention and control in the 2021-2025 period of the Customs sector, the General Department of Vietnam Customs identified five key target groups including:

Firstly, the Customs authority will seriously and effectively implement the guidance documents of the Politburo; Prime Minister; National Committee for AIDS, drug and prostitution prevention; Ministry of Finance and Customs sector on anti-drug work.

Second, strengthening the fight against drug-related crime and control lawful activities relating to drugs through effective implementation of customs inspection, supervision and control. Ensuring effective prevention and control on the act of illegally trading and transporting narcotics across the border; promptly detect and handle illegal activities related to drugs and precursors.

Third, 100% of Customs forces in charge of anti-drug work are trained and guided in skills and professional knowledge on drug prevention in the customs field.

Fourth, legal regulations and professional processes on drug prevention are disseminated, guided and organized to deploy to 100% of the anti-drug enforcement forces of the whole sector during implementation.

Fifth, the customs authority will promote coordination and cooperation between Customs authorities and ministries, sectors, competent forces and customs authorities of other countries in the region and international organizations in order to fight drug-related crime and control legal activities related to drugs, meeting new requirements and tasks.

In the plan, the General Department of Vietnam Customs assigns specific tasks to the Anti-smuggling and Investigation Department and local customs departments.