Representative of the two units sign the minutes on the handover and receipt the Trunarc Raman handheld narcotic analyzer. Photo: Ngoc Linh

On behalf of the General Department of Vietnam Customs, Deputy Director of the International Cooperation Department Nguyen Thi Viet Nga signed minutes on the receipt of three Trunarc Raman handheld narcotics analyzers and 300 chemical test kits with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).

To support the identification of risky goods including controlled substances and strengthen efficiency of control by the Port Control Units (PCUs), the UNODC has donated three Trunarc Raman handheld narcotics analyzers to the PCUs.

This is a handheld device that identifies multiple controlled substances including narcotics, synthetic drugs, and addictive substances.

The device is used for customs inspection and supervision by the PCUs and identifies nearly 500 types of substances including drugs, stimulants, hallucinogens and other substances in a quick and safe manner. In addition, the device's data library will be regularly updated on emerging dangerous substances.

The General Department of Vietnam Customs has allocated these devices to PCUs customs departments of Ba Ria-Vung Tau, Da Nang, HCM City, and coordinated with the UNODC to instruct on the use of the device for PCUs.

The UNODC’s representative hands over the Trunarc Raman handheld narcotic analyzer to the GDVC.

The Container Control Program (CCP) is a joint initiative of the UNODC and the World Customs Department (WCO) to assist governments in building capacity of law enforcement forces to improve efficiency of container control at seaports, and prevent the cross-border movement of illicit goods and crimes.

The CCP has been launched in more than 50 countries around the world. Under the program, about 100 PCUs have been established in Africa (Kenya, Morocco, Ghana), the Americas (Argentina, Brazil, Chile), Middle East (Egypt, Iran), Asia (India, Bangladesh).

The program has expanded to Southeast Asia since 2015 including Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Laos, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam.

The Ministry of Finance has joined the program since February 2015. Currently, the CCP has been launched at customs departments of Hai Phong, Da Nang, Ho Chi Minh City, Ba Ria - Vung Tau with the establishment of four PCUs.

The PCUs’ establishment aims to quickly respond and effectively identify high-risk containers.

The units have been trained professionally to use the device to analyze potential risks and minimize negative impacts on the legitimate free trade flow.