According to the Standing Office for Drug Control (SODC) under theMinistry of Public Security, since the last meeting in China’s Hubeiprovince in November 2013, Vietnam and China worked together to devise ajoint action plan to tackle drug crimes along their shared border.
The police forces of seven Vietnamese borderlocalities and the Chinese provinces Yunnan and Guangxi organised anumber of meetings to exchange information on organised crime.
Meanwhile, police departments in Lao Cai, Ha Giang, Lai Chau and DienBien provinces agreed on a cooperation mechanism with Yunnan province,according to the office.
Since 2013, the Yunnanpolice force has handed over four wanted drug traffickers, while LangSon province helped capture a fugitive drug criminal from China.
At the same time, the Customs of Vietnam uncovered 15 drug smugglingcases thanks to information provided by its Chinese counterpart, seizingover 21.2 kg of heroin.
Speaking at themeeting, Hoang Anh Tuyen, Deputy Head of the SODC, acknowledged thatauthorised agencies on both sides have yet to eliminate thetransnational illegal drug trade between the two countries. Despite theauthorities’ efforts, drugs and drug traffickers still enter intoVietnam from China.
He highlighted the need forboth sides to increase the exchange of information and provide mutualsupport during criminal investigations.
Meanwhile, Liu Yuejin, Permanent Deputy Secretary-General of China’sNational Narcotics Control Commission, stated that the majority ofmethamphetamines and heroin transported across the Vietnam-China borderoriginated in the Golden Triangle, impacting on both countriesnegatively.
He shared the Chinese police force’sexperience in running drug raids, while expressing his hope for astronger partnership with Vietnam in this field in the future.-VNA