Eight provinces of Vietnam, Laos cooperate in drug control

Synthetic pills. Illustrative image (Source: VNA)

Thanh Hoa (VNA) – Eight provinces of Vietnam and Laos attended a conference in Vietnam’s central Thanh Hoa province on October 18 to consolidate their cooperation in fighting drug crime.

At the conference, representatives from Thanh Hoa, Nghe An, Son La and Dien Bien of Vietnam, and Houphanh, Luang Prabang, Phongsaly and Xiengkhouang of Laos signed a Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in preventing and fighting drug crime.

Under the document, the localities pledge to boost economic development and ensure security-national defence in border areas, and increase mutual visits, sharing of experience and joint training activities among drug control officials.

The sides also agree to coordinate in large-scale anti-drug campaigns along their shared border, as well as in investing major drug crimes.

Addressing the conference, Chairman of Thanh Hoa People’s Committee Nguyen Dinh Xung said the cooperation among the eight provinces has produced noteworthy results, including the elimination of many cross-border trafficking rings.

During one year from September 2017, the eight provinces discovered 4,299 drug crimes with 5,673 suspects, seizing 554.5 kg of heroin, more than 3.33 million pills and 358kg of synthetic drug, 174 kg of meth, 282 kg of opium and 102 guns of various types.-VNA