Dien Bien (VNA) – Drug crime and other related issues in the eight border provinces of Vietnam and Laos were under control in 2024, but several hotspots remained, heard a conference held in Vietnam's northern province of Dien Bien on March 26.
The event, aimed at strengthening collaboration in drug prevention and control, brought together representatives from four Vietnamese provinces — Thanh Hoa, Nghe An, Son La, and Dien Bien — and four Lao localities — Houaphanh, Xieng Khouang, Luang Prabang, and Phongsaly.
Over the past year, competent border forces of both sides have worked closely to implement the Memorandum of Understanding reached at the previous conference. Regular meetings at the provincial and district levels have been held to exchange information and seek solutions to emerging issues. Public awareness campaigns have also been intensified across the eight provinces, employing diverse and targeted approaches to educate communities on the dangers of drug-related crimes.
Strengthened cooperation has yielded significant results in detecting and combating drug-related offenses in border and adjacent areas. Many major drug trafficking operations have been successfully dismantled thanks to effective coordination between Vietnamese and Lao authorities. Investigations have also been expanded to identify criminal networks and apprehend fugitives.
In 2024, competent agencies across the eight provinces detected nearly 4,560 cases, leading to the arrest of more than 6,100 suspects. Vietnamese authorities handled nearly 4,250 cases, with 5,653 individuals involved, while the Lao side recorded 310 cases with 450 arrests. Seized contraband included over 218 kg of heroin, 32 kg of opium, and 530 kg of synthetic drugs, along with large sums of cash.
Addressing the conference, Vu A Bang, Vice Chairman of the Dien Bien provincial People’s Committee, commended the cooperation among the eight provinces. However, he cautioned that drug-related crimes are becoming more sophisticated, requiring stronger collaboration and more effective strategies.
Participants reviewed achievements, assessed ongoing challenges, and proposed solutions for stronger cooperation. The event concluded with representatives from the eight provinces signing a memorandum of understanding on strengthening joint efforts in the drug fight./.
Vietnamese Ambassador Vu Le Thai Hoang underscored the essential need for multilateral cooperation to fight drug crimes, particularly through capacity building, technical assistance, and technology transfer for developing countries.
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