Illustrative image (Source:VNA) Hanoi (VNA) - The trade and transport of large amount of synthetic drugs from the ‘Golden Triangle’ (border area of Laos, Thailand and Myanmar) to Vietnam tends to increase. Meanwhile, customs sector is facing difficulties in legal regulations and equipment.
Drug mixed with even shrimp paste
At a press briefing on May 17 afternoon, Nguyen Van Thuy, Head of Drug Control Division, Anti-Smuggling Investigation Department, the General Department of Customs said, on the Vietnam - Laos border, illegal trading and transport of drug is becoming complicated.
Previously, synthetic mathamphetamine was rarely traded. However, from mid-2017 to now, the situation of trading, transporting large amount of synthetic drugs in tablet and mathamphetamine form along with heroin from the "Golden Triangle" area to Laos to Vietnam has increased.
According to him, it is because of the long border between Vietnam and Laos with favourable travel, trade and investment activities. In addition, increased trade relations also makes the number of vehicles crossing both sides of the border increased and easier.
Notably, drug production criminals have moved from China to Myanmar and sought way to transported to Vietnam via border provinces.
A typical case is on March 20, the customs sector and relevant agencies arrested 13 people and seized 300kg of mathamphetamine. The ring was organized by Chinese Teipei nationals and some Lao and Vietnamese people to illegally transport drug trans-nationally.
Most recently, on May 11, the authorities broke down a string of illegal trading and transporting 500kg Ketamine drug from outside to Ho Chi Minh City for sea transport to the third country. The ring was led by a Taiwanese.
On the other hand, according to the representative of the customs sector, criminals often take advantage of transporting goods via air, international post, and express delivery to illegally transport narcotics. Their trick is to divide the amount of drugs and mixed into the goods; the names and addresses of the senders and recipients are not clear.
Not to mention, they also mixed and impregnated drugs into drinks, cosmetics, perfumes, common foods such as confectionery, tobacco, dry tea, coffee, shrimp sauce, and flour.
Nguyen Phi Hung (M), Head of Anti-smuggling Investigation Department, General Department of Customs (Source: Vietnam+) Lacking of specific mechanisms?
Talking about the difficulties, Mr. Nguyen Phi Hung, Director of the Anti-Smuggling Investigation Department, General Department of Customs said that drug crimes are particularly dangerous with the most insidious, sophisticated, strictest organization in today's criminals.
However, equipment in the customs sector has been used for a long time, outdated and difficult to meet long-term requirements.
Customs forces worked at many border gates far from the center of the province. They must constantly cling to the location where the criminals are living. Meanwhile, according to Thuy, professional forces receive 20% allowance in support like some other forces.
Another difficult point raised by representatives of the Anti-Smuggling Investigation Department is the limitation in the provisions on the competence and tasks of customs offices in inspecting and controlling illegal trading and transportation of narcotic substances.
The representative of the General Department of Customs proposed the Government and the Ministry of Finance pay attention to procuring and supplementing container scanners, cargo scanners, especially modern specialized devices to detect drugs ..
In addition, it is necessary to have a specific policy to support the specialized forces in the prevention and combat of drug-related crime of the customs sector in a way similar to the policy to support the police force (entitled to the allowance level of 20 percent)./.
