HCM City Customs and Police authorities seized more than 700 kg of drugs in the first half of 2021. The authorities have voiced concern that drug criminals sheltered behind enterprises to ship these items.

Drugs seized by HCM City Customs authorities in coordination with the Anti-Smuggling
and Investigation Department and PC04 under HCM City Police in April 2021.

The number of arrests increases nearly two fold compared to 2020

In the first six months of 2021, HCM City Customs Department tackled 47 cases and seized 104.76 kg of drugs. The department tackled the GE520 Action plan and seized 9.86 kg of MDMA.

In the end of April, the department detected more than 6.5 kg of dried cannabis hidden in cans of beans and coffee cans.

Earlier, the department seized thousands of synthetic drug tablets in three packages sent from Germany to Vietnam via express delivery service.

In addition, the department discovered many cases of illegal drug transportation in HCM City. In the first half of 2021, HCM City coordinated with Investigation Police Department on Drug-related Crimes to tackle 814 cases, arrest 1,581 suspects and seize 610 kg of synthetic drugs.

It busted five illegal drug transportation rings from Cambodia to HCM City and seized more than 237 kg of synthetic drugs.

On April 4, the department in coordination with HCM City Police worked to combat the 221-H action plan and an illegal drug transportation ring. Authorities arrested four suspects and seized 49 heroin packages, 13 kg of synthetic drugs, 8kg of ketamine and 11,000 tablets of synthetic drugs.

On April 29, authorities destroyed VA321T action plan, arrested two suspects and seized 34 heroin packages,59,000 tablets of synthetic drugs and a car at An Phu District, Thu Duc City, HCM City.

Drugs concealed in export shipments

According to the leader of HCM City Customs and Police authorities, HCM City has many convenient transportation routes, including airway and seaway. Criminals have abused this place for drug transshipment, especially from Vietnam to Cambodia and Laos.

HCM City Police has coordinated with Customs forces at the airport to fight criminals have sheltered behind enterprises to transport drugs to Cambodia and Thailand.

HCM City Police has identified the drug-related crime from foreign countries tends to increase. Illegal drug transportation rings tackled by HCM City authorities have been participated in and managed by foreigners.

From huge seizures of drugs in export shipments such as the seizure of more than 40 kg drugs hidden inside granite blocks at the end of 2020 at Cat Lai Port, or the case of 500 kg of ketamine seized by HCM City Customs Department. Leaders of HCM City Customs and Police have voice concerns that drug criminals sheltered behind enterprises to transship these items.

The team leader of Customs Enforcement Team under HCM City Customs Department Huynh Nam said smugglers have abused express delivery services to transport illegal transport drugs inland or hide drugs in frozen goods, detergents or animal feed. Therefore, customs face difficulties in identifying goods owners.

The department has launched drug prevention and control plans to identify the routes and goods with high risk of drug transportation.

The department has requested border gates customs branches to inspect and control all suspicious shipments, especially exports to Taiwan and China.

Implement customs control programmes for exported goods in the following direction: Increase the rate of inspection of exported goods by routes and key items; enhance the random selection and inspection or conduct screening for export shipments classified into the green and yellow channels to assess the compliance of enterprises; use specialised inspection devices in drug control.