Vietnam, China review border drug crime crackdown campaign

The event was attended by officials of the Vietnamese Ministry of Public Security and relevant agencies of border provinces of the two countries.

During the fourth campaign from September 1 to November 30, Vietnamese and Chinese police, border guard, customs and coast guard forces regularly exchanged information about drug crime at talks and meetings or via hotlines.

Police of Vietnam’s Ha Giang and Lang Son provinces held meetings and phone talks with their counterparts in Wenshan prefecture of China’s Yunnan province and Guangxi province to share information and discuss coordination in resolving cases relating to both countries.

Border guards of Vietnam and China also often conducted bilateral border patrols, according to a report at the meeting.

Participants shared the view that the campaign helped enhance relations between the two countries’ police, especially drug crime investigation police. Notably, China captured and handed over to Vietnam one wanted criminal and 19 drug addicts.

Regular and timely information exchange contributed to each country’s drug crime prevention and combat.

Although many drug trafficking rings were uncovered, investigation to crack down on entire rings and identify masterminds remains modest. Meanwhile, the two sides have just coordinated in specific cases. Cross-border drug trafficking is still complicated.

Officers urged both sides to continue boosting cooperation and work out coordination mechanisms to improve campaigns in the future.

They agreed to maintain information exchange and support each other in verifying and arresting wanted criminals and suspects. They will consider collaboration to organise another drug crime communication and crackdown campaign in 2018.

During the campaign, authorised forces of Vietnam uncovered 1,273 cases involving 2,040 suspects and seized more than 398kg of heroin, 13.5kg of opium, and 124kg of marijuana.

Vietnam and China has a total border length of almost 1,450 km, including 1,065.6 km on land and 383.9 km on water. It traverses seven Vietnamese provinces (Dien, Bien, Lai Chau, Lao Cai, Ha Giang, Cao Bang, Lang Son, and Quang Ninh) and China’s Yunnan province and Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.