HÀ NỘI – Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc yesterday told the Ministry of Public Security to remain vigilant in the fight against corruption, and exert all efforts to speed up investigations into cases of public concern.

Attending the ministry’s conference on its activities in the first quarter of 2019, PM Phúc hailed the ministry’s efforts in administrative procedure and judicial reforms, including the pilot of granting electronic visas, documents and identity cards.

He asked the force to continue contributing ideas to the Party and State to make decisions on policies and measures to protect national security.

The ministry was also told to increase the effectiveness of State management over security, social order, and safety; as well as to make greater efforts to combat crimes to achieve a sustainable decrease in criminal activity.

Deputy Minister of Public Security Senior Lieutenant General Bùi Văn Nam said in the first quarter of 2019, the force implemented measures to thwart plots by hostile forces and ensured safety for key works as well as important political, social and cultural events, particularly the second DPRK-US summit, helping to increase the country’s role in international relations.

The ministry handled urgent economic, corruption, environmental and gambling crimes and conducted successful raids on drug traffickers.

The Ministry of Public Security revealed yesterday that it had handled a total of 30,196 law violation cases from November 16, 2018 to February 15, 2019.
Of the total, 10,515 cases were criminal ones; 6,590 violations of the environment law; 6,552 related to drugs and 71 to corruption.
Major General Phạm Văn Các, head of the Drug Crime Investigation Police Department, said in the period, public security forces detected several major drug rings, most recently the case in Hồ Chí Minh City with 300kg of drugs seized.
The amount of drugs seized in this period was equal to that of the whole 2018, Các said.
Moreover, the force discovered 3,033 cases involving 3,530 suspects investigated for illegal firecracker trafficking and use, with 27,794 tonnes of the contraband confiscated.
It has also exerted efforts to ensure traffic safety and reduce traffic accidents and congestion. In the period, more than 959,600 traffic violation cases were handled, with VNĐ676 billion (US$29.1 million) collected.
Attention was paid to inspecting fire prevention and fighting work at key economic, political and cultural facilities. From November 16, 2018 to February 15, 2019, 12,152 facilities were inspected, in which 6,685 showed signs of violations related to fire safety.— VNS