Society

Vietnam Customs expands capacity to tackle cross-border narcotics crime

Established in November 2025, the NTC comprises six officers from the Anti-Smuggling Investigation Sub-Department specialising in surveillance, intelligence collection and information analysis. The centre is tasked with strengthening customs capacity in risk assessment and drug crime targeting, helping authorities detect and prevent illicit cross-border trafficking of narcotics and other dangerous substances at an early stage.

At the equipment handover ceremony for the Narcotics Targeting Centre of Vietnam Customs. (Photo: cand.com.vn)
At the equipment handover ceremony for the Narcotics Targeting Centre of Vietnam Customs. (Photo: cand.com.vn)

Hanoi (VNA) - Vietnam Customs, in collaboration with the Global Rapid Interdiction of Dangerous Substances (GRIDS) Programme under the International Narcotics Control Board (INCB), on May 13 held a ceremony to hand over equipment to the Narcotics Targeting Centre (NTC) and officially launch the centre’s new office.

Established in November 2025, the NTC comprises six officers from the Anti-Smuggling Investigation Sub-Department specialising in surveillance, intelligence collection and information analysis. The centre is tasked with strengthening customs capacity in risk assessment and drug crime targeting, helping authorities detect and prevent illicit cross-border trafficking of narcotics and other dangerous substances at an early stage.

Within the framework of the GRIDS Programme, the NTC model supports law enforcement agencies in combating the illegal trade of narcotics, emerging psychoactive substances and hazardous chemicals. The network is currently operating at the INCB headquarters in Vienna and at the Lao Customs Department through technical support and access to open-source intelligence systems.

According to Vietnam Customs, the participation in the initiative marks a concrete step in implementing the national anti-drug strategy through 2030, amid increasingly sophisticated and transnational drug crimes exploiting international transport routes, e-commerce and express delivery services.

At the event, the GRIDS Programme handed over equipment worth nearly 20,000 USD to the NTC with funding from the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs under the US Department of State. The package includes laptops, tablets, workstations and large-screen monitoring systems to support online intelligence and operational activities.

Officials said the equipment and technical assistance will help establish a professional and specialised working environment for the NTC. Operating from the headquarters of the Department of Customs, the centre is expected to build valuable data resources serving the customs sector's drug and precursor control operations.

The facility will also support training activities and professional exchanges between Vietnam Customs, the INCB and law enforcement agencies at home and abroad.

ntc1.jpg
Representatives of Vietnam Customs and related agencies cut the ribbon to inaugurate the NTC office. (Photo: cand.com.vn)

Following the handover ceremony, representatives of Vietnam Customs and related agencies inaugurated the NTC office and inspected the newly installed equipment system. Delegates expressed their confidence that the centre’s operations will enhance intelligence analysis, targeting capability, information sharing and international cooperation in Vietnam’s fight against drug trafficking./.

​

VNA
#Narcotics Targeting Centre #drug trafficking #Vietnam Customs
Follow VietnamPlus

Related News

See more

Biological samples are collected from martyrs' remains at the Hue martyrs' cemetery for DNA analysis. (Photo: VNA)

Hue: 500-day campaign samples 1,456 unidentified martyrs

Vice Chairman of the Hue People's Committee Nguyen Van Manh said the large-scale sampling campaign will help build a national DNA database for martyrs, providing a foundation for future identity verification while helping restore the names of unknown fallen soldiers and easing the decades-long anguish of their families.

At the press conference on the 13th National Congress of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union in Hanoi on June 15 (Photo: VNA)

13th National Congress of Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union to take place next week

The Congress, which will take place in Hanoi, is an important political event for the Union and a major gathering for young people nationwide, Permanent Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union Central Committee and President of the Vietnam Students' Association Nguyen Minh Triet said at a press conference on June 15.

A youth union member assists a resident in handling administrative procedures at a public administrative service centre in Ho Chi Minh City. (Photo: VNA)

Over 3,400 administrative procedures, business conditions cut or simplified

Since April, the Government has issued 11 resolutions abolishing 56 conditional business lines. Compared to the 2025 Law on Investment, the number of conditional business sectors has been reduced by more than 28%, from 198 to 142. The resolutions also revised regulations governing 14 conditional business and investment sectors.

Khanh Hoa spreads sustainability awareness among young students (Photo: VNA)

📝OP-ED: Protecting children in digital age: Facts speak louder than distortions

The digital environment delivers clear gains: online birth registration, broader access to educational resources beyond classrooms and borders, and deeper integration into social life via national databases on law, education, health care, and population data. But it also introduces hazards such as harmful content, cyberbullying, online sexual harassment, personal data breaches, privacy violations, and potential psychological fallout from excessive screen time.

Illustrative image (Photo: Viettel Telecom)

Unverified mobile subscriptions hit by service suspension from June 15

Preliminary figures show that more than 93 million mobile numbers had completed ownership verification by the morning of June 15, while over 2 million numbers were identified as not being used by their registered owners. Around 18 million subscriptions had yet to confirm their status and were therefore subject to the suspension of outgoing calls and text messages.

Tao Yitao, senior professor at Shenzhen University, former Deputy Secretary of the university’s Party Committee, and Director of the China Centre for Special Economic Zone Research. (Photo: VNA)

Chinese scholar praises Vietnam’s two-tier local government model

As long as Vietnam remains committed to a people-centred development philosophy, its administrative reforms will deliver positive results. The country’s evolving governance model is opening new opportunities for the world to engage with Vietnam while enabling Vietnam to integrate more deeply with the world, further highlighting the attractiveness and vitality of its institutional development.

A corner of Ho Chi Minh City (Photo: VNA)

“Era of nation's rise”: An aspiration grounded in evidence, practice

Vietnam’s development track record shows that the “era of the nation's rise” is a political and theoretical marker of a new development phase. It represents a commitment, a rallying cry for progress, and a shared duty of the Party, people, and army to deliver a strong, prosperous Vietnam by 2045.

NA Chairman Tran Thanh Man (left) and PM Le Minh Hung at the meeting with leaders of press agencies in Hanoi on June 14. (Photo: VNA)

NA, Government leaders meet with heads of press agencies

The press has taken a leading role in defending the Party’s ideological foundation, countering wrongful and hostile stances, and raising the volume and quality of mainstream information, contributing to a healthy, humane and responsible media environment, said NA Chairman Tran Thanh Man.

The UN Group of Friends for Combating Technology-facilitated Trafficking in Persons, makes its debut at a ceremony in New York on June 12 (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam joins UN group on combating technology-facilitated human trafficking

The ambassador affirmed that Vietnam attaches great importance to cooperation with countries, the UN, UNODC, and relevant partners in combating human trafficking. He also noted that the participation of several ASEAN countries as founding members reflects the region’s shared commitment to implementing the ASEAN Convention Against Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children (ACTIP).

Prime Minister Le Minh Hung launches nationwide campaign for sustainable double-digit growth in Ho Chi Minh City on June 13. (Photo: VNA)

PM launches nationwide campaign for sustainable double-digit growth

Prime Minister Le Minh Hung called on ministries, sectors and localities to promptly translate the emulation movement into practical action plans and programmes, ensuring that emulation becomes not merely a campaign but a driving force for action, an ecosystem for discovering good models, replicating successful models and best practices.

NA Vice Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Thanh guides a student on how to use an English reading pen at the gift presentation event in Dien Bien province on June 12. (Photo: VNA)

NA Vice Chairwoman presents gifts to Dien Bien policy beneficiary families

Vice Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Thanh urged policy beneficiary families to carry forward revolutionary traditions, serve as role models for younger generations, and steer their children to follow Party’s guidelines and the State’s laws and policies, contributing to a more prosperous and civilised province.

The Vietnam Red Cross Society's members deliver gifts to needy people during the 2026 Humanitarian Month. (Photo courtesy of the VNRC)

Humanitarian Month raises nearly 762 billion VND

With the theme '80 Years - A Journey of Compassion for the Community', the campaign continues to affirm its role as a nationwide humanitarian initiative, mobilising participation across all levels, sectors, businesses, organisations, philanthropists and the general public to help those in difficult circumstances.