Unit 6 under Anti-Smuggling Investigation Department tackles major drug-related crimes

Anti-Smuggling Investigation Department: The core of the Customs force in the fight against drug crimes

Drugs are seized by Unit 6 in 2023.

According to Unit 6, in 2023, the drug smugglers and traffickers have operated more complicated, especially by air way and postal services. These offenders have abused preferential policies in customs clearance for entry and exit, transit goods, luggage, and means of transport to smuggle and transport drugs into Vietnam. Although the number of passengers, means of transport on entry and exit, import and export goods... has decreased compared to previous years before the Covid-19 pandemic, the number of violations at border gates has tended to increase in both the number of cases and the quantity of drugs.

Smugglers have researched carefully and abused preferential policies in customs clearance for entry and exit, transit goods, luggage, and means of transport to smuggle and transport drugs into Vietnam, and hidden drugs inside goods for export to third countries. They have used sophisticated methods, causing difficulty for the Customs in inspection and supervision.

To effectively control the area, Unit 6 has cooperated with relevant units to make special plan. Accordingly, the Unit has coordinated with Tan Son Nhat International Airport Customs Branch under HCM City Customs Department to make special plans to fight the cross-border drug trafficking.

On January 4, Unit 6 collaborated with PC04 of HCM City Police and other enforcement units to arrest a male suspect who was receiving a gift package transported by air from the US to Vietnam, weighting 501.45 grams of MDMA, 22.54 grams of cocaine, and 16.63 grams of marijuana. On July 14, the investigation group arrested a Kenyan woman entering the country, and seized 2,340 grams of Cocaine, hidden in a double-bottomed suitcase.

The woman and drug are arrested in 2023.

Another case of shipping drugs via express delivery service from aboard to Hanoi and then transport to HCM City, on August 24 Division 4 (C04-Ministry of Public Security) coordinated with PC04 (HCM City Police), Unit, Tan Son Nhat International Airport Customs Branch, Investigation Police Team on Drug-related Crimes - Binh Thanh District Police, ....to arrest a suspect illegally transporting drugs and seized packages of drugs, with a total weight of 17.5 kg of tablets suspected to be MDMA, 3 kg of crystal suspected as Ketamine, 350 grams of white powder suspected as heroin.

In the year, Unit 6 collaborated with HCM City Customs Department to arrest 34 cases, seized 24,035 grams of marijuana, 8,604.2 grams of methamphetamine, 17,234.6 grams of heroin, 6,174.28 grams of ketamine, 21,429.24 grams of cocaine, 21,856.67 grams of MDMA. Notably, the team arrested suspects and infringing goods in seven violations.

In addition, Unit 6 has also coordinated with Da Nang International Airport Customs Branch (Da Nang City Customs Department), Cam Ranh International Airport Customs Branch (Khanh Hoa Customs Department), Nam Giang Border Gate Customs Branch (Quang Nam Customs Department), Bo Y Border Gate Customs Branch (Gia Lai - Kon Tum Customs Department) to implement Plan No. 05/KH-D6 dated May 4, 2023 strengthening control, prevention and combat of illegal transportation of drugs from abroad into Vietnam and vice versa, thereby, providing information to local customs branches about operation, methods and tricks to hide drugs by smugglers, exchanging information to determine routes and flights showing suspicious signs, and inspecting luggage on a number of flights by scanners.