Despite the complicated development of the Covid-19 pandemic, global, regional and domestic drug crimes still take place and pose serious risks with new tricks to outsmart regulatory authorities, Colonel Ngo Thanh Binh, Deputy Director of the Investigation Police Department on Drug-related Crimes (C04), said at a teleconference on Wednesday.

The view of the teleconference. Photo: C04.

Mainly contact via Facebook and social networks

In the first half of 2021, Investigation Police forces on Drug-related Crimes and relevant authorities handled 12,422 cases and arrested 17,683 drug offenders, seizing 300kg of heroin, 1.16 tons and 2.52 million synthetic drug tablets, and 940kg of cannabis.

Source: C04

Recently, drug crimes increasingly took place in HCM City, Southern provinces and along the Vietnam-Cambodia border, becoming “hot spots” of drug-related crime.

“Since Chinese authorities have tackled drug crimes and controlled the border due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Chinese and Taiwanese suspects have illegally entered Vietnam and connected with domestic suspects to invest in business, rent warehouses, apartments; illegally traded and transported drugs from the Golden Triangle area by hiding drugs in electric motors, furniture, machinery, electronic equipment, agricultural products, tea, plastic beads, scrap iron, kids toys, and pig innards,” Binh said.

Smugglers have transported drugs via express delivery, non-commercial gifts by air from European countries (Netherlands, France, Germany, Czech Republic, Belgium) to Vietnam to consume and transport to other countries.

In the Northwest and North Central regions recently showed signs of development.

Notably, drug trafficking rings have transported drugs from some northwest provinces of Dien Bien, Son La, and North Central provinces of Nghe An, Ha Tinh to northern provinces and then transported them to China for consumption. They often change the direction of transportation to avoid detection and arrest by authorities.

Drug criminals have transported huge quantities of drugs via sea from aboard or transited in Vietnam and transported them to the third countries, especially seaports in HCM City, Ba Ria-Vung Tau and Hai Phong.

C04 said it has detected some illegal drug trafficking and transportation rings that have used online transactions, international bank cards, or virtual currencies for drug trafficking.

In addition, suspects make contact via social networks, causing difficulties for investigation.

Drug trafficking rings must be dealt with

Lieutenant General Nguyen Duy Ngoc, Deputy Minister of Public Security, requested Investigation Police forces on Drug-related Crimes to ask local governments to effectively comply with directions of leaders at all levels and legal documents related to drug prevention and control.

Especially, perform tasks, combat drug crimes, and tackle inter-provincial and transnational drug crime rings and groups.

Effectively implement the Ministry of Public Security’s Plan No. 486 on solving drug crimes in HCM City, the Vietnam-Cambodia border and key southern provinces; develop plans to fight drug trafficking rings in the Northwest and other key areas.

Deputy Minister of Public Security requested measures to prevent drug crimes from neighboring borders, and bust drug rings and drug dealers.

He also asked Investigation Police forces on Drug-related Crimes to coordinate with the Border Guard, Coast Guard and Customs forces to prevent drug-related crime at border gates, and closely control people and vehicles on exit and entry across border gates, border crossings, seaports and airports.

Strengthen international cooperation in combating drug-related crime. Actively participate in multilateral forums on drug prevention and control, and continue to affirm Vietnam's political commitment and determination in the fight against drugs, and expressed the view that Vietnam does not legalize drugs.

“Propose to establish action plans with police of neighboring countries to combat this crime if necessary. Additionally, strictly monitor the status of overseas Vietnamese and foreigners residing in Vietnam, especially illegal immigrants related to drugs," Lieutenant General Nguyen Duy Ngoc said.