The issue of drug-related crimes taking advantage of sea routes for trade and illegal transport is not new, but it has increased recently. Meanwhile, the work of competent forces still faces many difficulties.

The Coast Guard coordinated to arrest 2 persons transporting 14 kg of meth,
12,000 tablets of synthetic narcotics on January 18, 2021. Photo: Minh Tuấn 

Increasing tricks

According to the assessments of competent forces, due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, flights to other countries were interrupted, roads were strictly controlled to prevent the pandemic, leading to increased trading and transport of drugs at sea.

This was a route that international drug criminals often take advantage of for transporting drugs in large quantities. In particular, many cases of illegal transport of drugs in large quantities at sea such as: Nam Dinh, Nghe An, Da Nang, Ba Ria-Vung Tau, An Giang, Kien Giang, Ca Mau, were successfully handled by the Vietnam Coast Guard, Border Defence force, the police and the customs force.

Major General Tran Van Nam, Vice Commander of the Law of the Coast Guard, said that due to the impact of drug-related crimes in the region and the country, the diversity and advantages of sea transportation together with the high profits obtained from the illegal trade and transport of narcotics, the situation of drug-related crimes transported through sea areas in Vietnam has continued to be unpredictable.

Notably, at present, the suspects transporting drugs by sea often change their methods. The leader is usually a foreigner, associating with subjects in the "Golden Triangle" or "Golden Crescent" in order to form lines of illegal trading and transport of drugs to Vietnam and Southeast Asian countries. In particular, the suspects often establish import-export companies as window dressing, renting warehouses in the central and southern provinces to gather drugs, using tricks and common goods for transporting drugs to other countries. Therefore, the struggle for expanding exploitation and arresting foreign leaders is very difficult.

Besides that, at present, the subjects are taking advantage of the sea to float drugs. This is a new form of drug transport that has recently been applied by the suspects in the southwest sea. Typically on March 20, 2020, fishermen in Phu Quoc island district (Kien Giang) lifted and handed over 20kg of synthetic drugs to the investigation agency; in the days from December 10-20, fishermen in Kien Giang province also lifted and handed over 70kg of drugs to the authorities in the waters of Tho Chau archipelago.

The Coast Guard has grasped thoroughtly the content, directing subordinate units to actively coordinate with competent forces to promote the fight and prevent the source of drugs from entering Vietnam via sea.

In cases of drugs drifting to the Vietnamese coast, the Vietnam Coast Guard actively sent letters to exchange and notify the situation and received positive feedback and high appreciation from the Coast Guard in the region.

Actively coordinating for hunting

To prevent drug-related crimes at sea, Major General Tran Van Nam said that the Coast Guard force has been coordinating with the Customs, Police and Border Defence forces to perform the task of grasping the situation, implementing synchronous professional measures, verifying and collecting documents on lines and groups of drug-related crimes transported across sea routes, establishing a specialised project, and thoroughly fighting.

Strengthening communication for letting people see clearly the methods of manipulating and operation of drug-related crimes, be vigilant to not participate, support and denounce crimes to authorities, especially fishermen participating in activities at sea.

Besides that, closely coordinating with the Police and Customs forces in supporting personnel with equipment and facilities in the fight to stop drug-related crime; cooperation in information exchange, investigation and verification of suspects participating in operating drug lines at sea; assisting in the inspection and control of foreign vehicles and boats entering Vietnamese waters that show signs of illegally transporting narcotics on key sea and international maritime routes.

Through international cooperation, the Coast Guard force will mobilise and effectively use the help of international organisations in drug prevention at sea. Implementing international commitments, especially for countries having contiguous sea areas, countries that have signed agreements, and memorandums of understanding on drug prevention.

In addition, to strengthen information exchange with the Coast Guard of other countries, at the same time advise the Ministry of National Defense on the contents and regulations on international cooperation in drug control at sea. Reviewing to advise ministries and sectors to submit to the Government and the National Assembly to promptly amend and supplement the provisions of the law that are overlapping in the direction of synchronisation and consistency with international law and the reality of the fight against drug-related crime in Vietnam.