Evidence seized during a drug bust in Quảng Nam Province in February. — VNA/VNS Trần Tĩnh

HÀ NỘI — Việt Nam must avoid becoming one of the world’s major transit points for illegal drugs, according to a directive issued by Deputy Prime Minister Vũ Đức Đam on behalf of Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc on February 21.

Law enforcement forces, ministries, State agencies and provincial authorities have been urged to pull out all the stops to prevent drugs from being trafficked from foreign countries to Việt Nam and within the country, smash drug rings and improve the investigation of drug-related crimes.

The Deputy Prime Minister also asked to eradicate illegal drug trade points and tighten loopholes that drug rings can use to commit crimes, especially at pubs, nightclubs and karaoke bars.

Deputy PM Đam asked that the law enforcement continually updated its list of precursors, psychotropic substances and narcotic drugs in line with three United Nations treaties that constitute the international law framework of global drug control: the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, 1961, as amended by the 1972 Protocol; the Convention on Psychotropic Substances, 1971, and the Convention Against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances, 1988.

The Government also urged for strengthening of international cooperation and ensuring effective implementation of international commitments regarding drug prevention and combat, and signing new treaties to better deal with the issue.

Việt Nam busted several drug rings, both international and interprovincial, in the past two years. The country’s police and customs also collaborated with other ASEAN members to crack down on large-scale drug crimes.

Last week, Hà Nội’s High-Level People’s Court upheld the death sentence imposed on 47-year-old ringleader Phạm Minh Tuấn and eight other members of an inter-provincial drug smuggling ring at an appeal trial.

In March, 2019, the Philippines seized nearly 300kg of methamphetamine thanks to tip-offs from Việt Nam.

These drugs had been transported from Myanmar, through Laos and Việt Nam, under the name of a HCM City-based textile company, before being captured in the Philippines. — VNS