Public security – key but not the only force for drug prevention, control

Hanoi (VNA) – Drug prevention and control activities must be put under the leadership and direction of the Party Committees and administration at all levels, especially the grassroots level, with the People’s Public Security force playing the key role but not the only force in the work, said Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh at an online conference on drug prevention and control on March 10.

PM Chinh highlighted the Party and State’s efforts in designing drug prevention and control mechanisms and policies, including the National Assembly’s adoption of the Drug Prevention and Control Law that took effect from January 1, 2022.

Amid the current complicated drug trafficking situation in the world, especially in the Golden Triangle, Vietnam has actively launched drug raids in major areas, while rolling out effective and synchronous measures against drug trafficking and strengthening international cooperation in the work, he said.

However, the Government leader pointed out that the coordination among the administration at all levels, sectors and agencies in drug prevention and control remains limited, with the wrong thinking of relying entirely on the public security force to do the job.

PM Chinh stressed that drug is a global as well as national problem, so a global approach is needed with close coordination among countries and international organisations, while on the national scale it requires the engagement of the whole political system and people from all walks of life. 

He underlined the need to pay greater attention to anti-drug activities at grassroots level, focusing on groups with high risks.

The PM ordered ministries, sectors and localities to continue to review and perfect the legal system regarding drug prevention and control, and strengthen international collaboration in the work.

He requested the Ministry of Public Security to concentrate on erasing drug hotspots and tightening the management of drug addicts.

The Ministry of National Defence was asked to closely control the border and work with the Ministry of Public Security to fight drug criminals in land and sea border areas.

The Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Industry and Trade and Ministry of Health were told to make proposals on the supplementation and adjustments of legal regulations related to drug prevention and control and the tackling of drug trafficking crimes under the cover of business activities.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs was asked to assess the efficiency of community-based detoxification measures, and the Ministry of Information and Communications was assigned to increase communication activities against drug.

Localities nationwide were also requested to form their own steering committees on drug prevention and control and design their anti-drug plans.

According to the Ministry of Public Security, amid the complicated world situation and the introduction of more new kinds of drugs, the ministry, as the standing agency for drug prevention and control of the National Committee for the Prevention and Control of AIDS, Drug and Prostitution, has coordinated with other ministries, sectors and localities to implement drastic measures against drug criminals, while strengthening anti-drug cooperation with neighbouring countries to prevent the trafficking of drug to Vietnam, thus not letting Vietnam to be an international drug transit point.

Last year, anti-drug forces from the Ministry of Public Security, Ministry of National Defence and Ministry of Finance brought to light 26,967 drug trafficking cases involving 41,308 suspects, seizing 809 kilos of heroin, 6.1 tonnes of meths, 867 kilos of marijuana and over 1 tonne of other drugs. The forces erased 460 hotspots and discovered 1,563 establishments allowing drug use during their business./.