
Can Tho (VNA) – The Ministry of PublicSecurity (MoPS) and representatives of 33 southern provinces and citiesreviewed the anti-drug efforts over the first six months of 2018 on July 16,stressing the need for stronger actions to fight drug-related crimes thatremain complicated nationwide.
At the meeting in Can Tho city, public securityofficials shared their experience and pointed out some of the obstacles in drug-relatedcrime combat and rehabilitation in their localities.
Deputy Director of the MoPS’s advisorydepartment Colonel Le Van Chuong said the drug crime situation across thecountry is still complicated. Many new types of drug have appeared, resultingin a sharp rise in drug addicts, while drug rehabilitation remains largely ineffectivein many areas.
These facts require more drastic and strongeractions to fight drug crimes, along with the active participation of society andthe whole political system and the public, he noted.
To promote anti-drug efforts, the MoPS, theMinistry of National Defence, and the General Department of Vietnam Customshave ordered relevant forces to continue grasping local situations, and uppinganti-drug personnel in vulnerable areas like the northwestern, northeastern,northern central, and southwestern regions, as well as at airports andseaports, he said.
Chuong said the MoPS and relevant ministries shouldwork closely with neighbouring countries to crack down on transnational drugrings, he added.
In the first six months of 2018, many drugtrafficking rings were uncovered with the seized heroin volume surging 168percent from the previous year. Authorised forces busted nearly 13,700drug-related cases, arresting nearly 20,000 suspects and seizing over 940kg ofheroin, nearly 800,000 synthetic drug pills, 1,500kg of marijuana, and over40kg of opium.
Meanwhile, the total in drug-related cases andcriminals rose 20 percent and 12 percent from the same period last year,respectively. Procuracies and courts at all levels brought to trial nearly8,000 drug-related cases with nearly 9,600 defendants, data shows.-VNA