President lauds role models in anti-drug fight

Hanoi (VNA) – President Tran Dai Quang lauded individuals and collectives who stood out in the fight against drug during a meeting held in Hanoi on December 9.

Over the past years, the Party and State have issued a number of policies and measures to combat the trafficking of addictive substances and drug-related crimes.

Since 1997, the anti-drug police have uncovered 172,000 cases, arrested more than 283,000 offenders, and confiscated over 3,179kg of heroin, 4,558 kg of opium, 30,000kg of dried marijuana, 87kg of cocaine, 1,044kg and about 1.7 million methamphetamine pills, together with weapons and assets worth thousands of billion VND.

They also busted and eradicated 7,872 drug hot-spots.

A number of effective anti-drug models in residential areas have been duplicated nationwide.

Speaking at the meeting, President Quang described the anti-drug campaign as a crucial, urgent and long-term task of the world and Vietnam in particular.

He asked the Party committees and authorities at all levels to direct the campaign, considering it a regular political task, while mobilising collective power to realise the national strategy on drug prevention and control until 2020 with orientations towards 2030.

The State leader urged the anti-drug police to work closely with border and coast guards, local customs and police, and concerned agencies to fight trans-national drug rings, eradicate drug manufacture and storage areas, and prevent the re-plantation of plants containing addictive substances.

Relevant agencies were requested to improve the efficiency of collaboration with their foreign counterparts, especially those in neighbouring countries, as well as effectively combat the smuggling of drugs into Vietnam and raise public awareness of drug danger and complicated tricks of drug dealers.

The outstanding people will also later gather at a ceremony, which will also commemorate 22 officers and people who laid down their lives for the anti-drug effort.

It forms activities celebrating the 20th anniversary of traditional day of Anti-Drug Police (March 12)./.