Authorities seize a drug trafficking case. Prime Minsiter Nguyễn Xuân Phúc has directed relevant ministries and agencies to strengthen drug prevention and control to ensure reduction in supply, use and attendant evils. — Photo conganhatinh.gov.vn

HÀ NỘI — Prime Minsiter Nguyễn Xuân Phúc has directed relevant ministries and agencies to strengthen drug prevention and control to ensure reduction in supply, use and attendant evils.

In his latest directive issued last week, the Prime Minister also emphasised the need to engage the private sector and international resources for better drug prevention and control, as well as detoxification.

He called for continued review and improvement of policies regarding the payment of fines by users and voluntary rehabilitation.

The Ministry of Public Security was asked to strengthen investigation and crack down on drug production, trafficking, trading and using.

The Ministry of Health was asked to review and amend regulations on drug addiction claims. It was also assigned to study and develop remedies for drug addiction, especially for disorders caused by methamphetamine.

The Ministry of Defence was asked to co-operate with agencies and localities to curb drug crime along land and sea borders.

The PM asked the Supreme People’s Court to study and propose plans that allow drug users to be exempted from mandatory rehabilitation or have their sentence delayed. Under current law, drug users are sent to compulsory rehabilitation centres if they don’t have stable residence or fail to get "clean" after rehabilitation treatments at home.

However, such centres are controversial and Việt Nam is planning to do away with them.

A plan on the establishment of a Drug Court in Việt Nam is expected to be completed and submitted to relevant authorities in the fourth quarter of this year.

People’s committees in cities and provinces were asked to tighten drug prevention and control, oversee drug users living in their localities, improve the quality of drug rehabilitation centres and speed up community-based rehabilitation.

The Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs estimated that Việt Nam had more than 210,000 drug addicts by the end of 2016, an increase of 10,600 compared with 2015. Between 2014 and 2016, as many as 66,552 drug users received rehabilitation treatment. There are 80 centres for compulsory drug rehabilitation and 24 for voluntary treatment available in Việt Nam.

According to the pubic security ministry, in the first half of this year, in northern provinces only, police cracked down on almost 12,000 drug trade and trafficking violations, involving to 17,680 people. Police seized 442 kg of heroin, 1,126 kg of methamphetamine, 81.7 kg of opium, 84.83 kg of dried cannabis, 5,600 kg of khát leaves, 1.6 kg of cocaine and 4.73kg of fake weed. — VNS