Son La has a long common borderline of 217 kmwith the Lao province. This northwestern region of Vietnam is knownfor its abrupt terrain and huge mountain ranges creating long twistedmountain passes, a convenient place for criminal activities, especiallydrug-related crimes.
Thus, a large number ofcrimes such as killings, robberies, illegal immigration and humantrafficking have occurred in the locality.
Tocope with the situation, the two sides signed the first MoU on the issuein July 2008, which laid the foundation for specific cooperationactivities.
The two forces have conducted theperiodic exchange of information and mutual patrols and arrestedhundreds of drug trafficking suspects since 2008.
Notably, the Vietnamese border guard seized 50 packs of heroin and 398 methamphetamine pills on November 2, 2009.
On this occasion, the two sides presented awards to outstandingindividuals and units in the work of cross-border and drug crimeprevention and fighting over the past years.-VNA