Although the Covid-19 pandemic is raging globally, having a great impact on the socio-economic status in the country and around the world, transnational drug crime is stillan issue. This was stated by Colonel Nguyen Van Vien, Director of Investigation Police Department on Drug-related Crimes (C04), Ministry of Public Security.

Colonel Nguyen Van Vien, Director of Investigation Police Department
on Drug-related Crimes (C04), Ministry of Public Security. 

Drug-related crimes, especially transnational drug crimes, have not reduced, how do you assess this issue?

Recently, activities of crimes have been complicated, especially drug crimes. Through the understanding, analysis, assessment, forecasting and practice of combating drug crime, it shows that drug crime in Vietnam continues to be affected by the drug crime situation aroundthe world and the region, especially the "Golden Triangle" area.

Specifically, in the Vietnam-Laos border area, the trafficking and illegal transportation of drugs has sharply increased, especially synthetic drugs. This route has directly been affected by the illegal production and sale of drugs from the "Golden Triangle" area into the country with the support of crime groups and gangs that operate in “drug hot-spots” along the border.

In the Vietnam-Cambodia border area, the drug trafficking from the "Golden Triangle" transits Thailand, Laos and Cambodia to Vietnam. Some suspects abuse travelling, visitingrelatives, doing business and gambling inCambodia for trafficking drugs. The drug addicts go to Cambodia totraffick drugs for use.

Meanwhile, in the Vietnam-China border area, drugs, especially heroin, is transported from aboard to Vietnam and then continues to be transported to China. Recently, competent forces of Vietnam and China have strengthened coordination in publicity and drastic attacks, so acts of trafficking and illegal transportation of synthetic drugs from China to Vietnam have been less than before, but there is always a risk of complications, the risk of Chinese suspects transferring capital, human resources, means and techniques to other countries, including Vietnam to illegally manufacture drugs.

On the sea route, smugglers continue to abuse trafficking drugs in large quantities from abroad to Vietnam and then from Vietnam to a third country. Especially, in seaports in the South likeHo Chi Minh City and Ba Ria - Vung Tau. The tricks of suspects are abusing import and export activities of goods to hide drugs in containers to transport drugs abroad.

The cases of large transnational drug transportation are taking place, requiring close cooperation competent forces. How do you evaluate the results of cooperation between the major special operations forces in this dangerous field?

According to Decision No. 133/2002/QD-TTg in 2002 of the Prime Minister, four major special operations forces include: the Investigation Police Department on Drug-related Crimes of the Ministry of Public Security and local Police forces, Border Guards, Coast Guard and Customs. Over the past year, forces have coordinated effectively in the fight against drug crimes, especially tackling transnational drug crime rings.

Typically, tackling the special case A720P trafficking and illegally transporting drugs from Cambodia to Vietnam and then transporting to South Korea via sea for consumption at Cat Lai Port in July.

Firstly, from the information from the Drug and Crime Prevention Department of the Border Guard High Command, then with the agreement and direction of the leaders of the Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of Finance, Director of C04 and Director of Drug and Crime Prevention Department co-chaired the special case. The process of tackling the case continues to be coordinated by the Anti-Smuggling and Investigation Department of the General Department of Vietnam Customs.

Specifically, on the night of July 19, at Cat Lai Port (HCMC), the C04 co-chaired with the Drug and Crime Prevention Departmentand coordinated with Anti-Smuggling and Investigation Department of the General Department of Vietnam Customs and other forces to successfully tackle the special case A720P. The competent forces seized 40 packages of methamphetamine (about 40kg) hidden inside four stone bales.

The perpetrator of the ring of the drug trafficking and illegal transportation is Kim Soonsik. He was an officer with 25 years working in the Korean police force and was dismissed by Korean authorities for disciplinary violations.

After seizing drugs in the container, the working team of the special case has directed sixscout teams to arrest suspects at different locations in Ho Chi Minh City.

However, the group related to the case at Cat Lai Port is a group in the transnational drug crime organization.

C04 detected another large-scale group that coincided with the suspects in a special case investigated by specialized units of the C04 atthe end of 2019.

Currently, after three phases of the case, 24 suspects were arrested in Ho Chi Minh City, Dong Nai, Ca Mau, and Kien Giang and 24 suspects were prosecuted for acts of illegally storing, transporting and trafficking drugs. The total amountof seized evidence was 164kg of all kinds of drugs (meth, ketamine, ecstasy), 19 heroin packages, and many assets (VND, USD, cars, motorbikes) related to the case.

To effectively prevent drug crime, what key solutions need to be implementedby the C04 and competent forces in the near future?

The Investigation Police Department on Drug-related Crimes continues to coordinate with the competent forces to prevent drug-related crimes, and effectively implement peak attacks, suppress crimes, and maintain public order and securityto serve the 75th anniversary of the National Day of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and related major events.

The coordination between competent forcesin the context of our country's deep international integration, investment, trade and tourism, is developing but also leads to many risks of transnational drug crimes.

The results in fighting drug crimes in reality show that large transnational drug trafficking and illegal transportation rings and special cases have been led by foreign perpetrators who workedwith Vietnamese suspects to establish companies to operate with sophisticated tricks and abuse the import and export activities of goods to illegal transport drugs. Therefore,  the coordination among four major special operations forces should be strengthened to prevent and tackle them promptly and effectively,especially direct coordination should be performedwell.

On the other hand, to contribute to the effective implementation of coordination among competent forces, the C04 is cooperating with competent units to develop a draft decision amending and supplementing Decision 133/2002/QD- TTg. In which, more specificresponsibilities of each competent force in performing the task of combating drug-related crimes.