Taking advantage of import – export activities, trading and using veterinary medicines containing drugs and precursors, drug-related criminals bought, sold or used in the preparation and extraction of precursors contained in veterinary medicines for drug production; the competent forces seized a number of cases and subjects using veterinary medicines to extract ketamine.

Drugs that was camouflage in foods bag for cat exporting to Taiwan, seized by
Tan Son Nhat International Airport Customs Branch in the end of March in 2021.
Photo: Lê Thu

On April 6, representatives of the Anti-Drug Enforcement Division - Division 6 (Anti-Smuggling and Investigation Department, General Department of Vietnam Customs) said the Anti-Smuggling and Investigation Department has developed a plan on reviewing, investigating, verifying and discovering a number of enterprises imported veterinary medicines containing narcotics without import permits issued by authorities.

On April 1, the leader of the Anti-Smuggling and Investigation Department issued a document to warn the sector about the import and export of veterinary medicines containing drugs and precursors without license of specialised agencies.

The Anti-Smuggling and Investigation Department recommended customs branches, customs enforcement teams and anti-drug enforcement teams under local customs department immediately implement several key contents.

These include strictly complying with regulations on checking the receipt of dossiers and customs declarations, conducting physical inspection of goods, controlling the compliance of goods management policies, tax policies, and regulations of laws for exported and imported goods as veterinary medicines containing drugs and precursors on the list specified in Decree No. 73/2018/ND-CP dated May 15, 2018.

When implementing clearance procedures for veterinary medicines containing drugs and precursors, a permit is required upon import and export, the license number, issuing authority and name of type of drugs, precursor, chemical composition, symbols, characteristics and the effects of the product must be shown on the declaration; the permit must be valid before the time of clearance.

Strengthen control over the illegal export, import, purchase, sale and transportation of veterinary medicines containing drugs and precursors; to inspect and supervise firms doing business in trade, investment, processing, production and export related to the import and export of veterinary medicines.

Simultaneously, applying professional measures and collecting information to understand the purpose of use, quantity, type, consumption norm, storage, destruction, sale, purchase, and transfer of veterinary medicines between firms.

When detecting signs of violations, it is necessary to organise investigation, verification, strict dossier preparation and consideration and assessment of each case for having appropriate handling measures.

The Anti-Smuggling and Investigation Department recommended the units strictly abide by the reporting regime on the control of drugs and precursors, including reporting on the import and export of western medicines and veterinary medicines containing narcotics and precursors in accordance with Decision No. 1276/QD-TCHQ dated June 18, 2010 of the General Department of Vietnam Customs and take responsibility if they are missing an import declaration of veterinary medicines without a license of the competent authority.

According to the General Department of Vietnam Customs, the illegal trading and transportation of narcotics in the first quarter was very complex, especially via air and post services.

On borderlines such as Dien Bien, Nghe An and Tay Ninh the illegal transport of narcotics is still very hot and the tricks of the subjects are very sophisticated with a large number of seized drugs.

In the first quarter, the whole Customs sector tackled 19 cases with 20 subjects, seizing: 17,516.20 grams of heroin; 665,376.43 grams of marijuana; 101,530.52 grams and 19,401 tablets of synthetic drug; 150 tablets of diazepam and 90 tablets of alprazolam and 8 kg of ketamine.