The fight against drug-related crimes is a difficult, complicated, urgent, regular and long-term task, aiming to prevent and eliminate the serious consequences caused by this type of crime. Fully aware of this importance, Drug Enforcement Task Force No. 2 has always focused on improving the effectiveness of the fight against drug trafficking at sea to bring a peaceful life to the people.

Criminal offences in general and those relate to drug in Vietnam's seas in particular, are very complicated and unpredictable. They operate increasingly sophisticatedly with cunning and organised schemes, and external connections. To prevent and minimise the consequences caused by drug-related crimes, in recent years, the Party Committee and Command of Drug Enforcement Task Force No. 2 (DETF2) under the Vietnam Coast Guard have regularly coordinated closely with units, Party committees and governments of the North Central provinces to proactively develop projects and plans, and improve the effectiveness of the fight against drug trafficking on the seas, islands and inland areas under its authority.

Despite its large areas of operation, limited strength, hardships in marine operations, and aggressive acts of criminals, etc., with drastic and synchronous solutions, DETF2 has seen positive results in its operations. In the first half of 2024, it headed and coordinated to fight victoriously against 25 drug-related offences, arresting 30 suspects, and prosecuted 11 criminal cases.

Conducting legal dissemination for fishermen (Photo: qdnd.vn)

It is forecasted that in the coming time, criminal offences, especially drug-related crimes in the North Central Coastal regions, tend to become more complicated with more sophisticated methods of operation. The transnational drug criminals will form networks and cartels in the form of investment, import and export, joint venture, service business, etc. to conceal their complicated criminal acts. This situation requires the Party DETF2’s Committee and the Command to lead, direct, and deploy many synchronous and drastic solutions to improve the effectiveness of the fight against drug-trafficking at sea, focusing on the following ones:

Firstly, promoting propaganda, education and dissemination of legal regulations on the fight against drug-related crimes. DETF2’s Party Committee and Command focus on promoting propaganda and education for cadres, soldiers, people in coastal communes and fishermen to firmly grasp the legal regulations on drugs; clearly see the insurmountable consequences and harms caused by drugs, thereby raising their awareness, responsibility and vigilance in the fight and prevention of drug. The content of propaganda and education should be extensive, comprehensive, clear, specific, focusing on directives, instructions and legal regulations on drug prevention and control.

To make this work effective, it directs its subordinate groups to diversify the forms and methods of propaganda and education in a way that is suitable for each target and locality, vivid and highly deterrent. Besides meetings, conferences, in-person study, seminars, exchanges, thematic talks, art performance, billboards, posters, and internal radio, it also makes video clips; coordinates with the Central and local radios and televisions based in the area to build specialised pages and columns for propaganda. Regularly coordinates with relevant forces and high schools to conduct propaganda for fishermen, people in coastal communes and students so that they clearly see the consequences and harms caused by drug trafficking, thereby they will raise their awareness, responsibility and not commit legal offences, not assist drug criminals.

Second, closely coordinating with other functional forces in the fight against drug-related crimes. To improve the effectiveness of its task performance, DETF2’s Party Committee and Command focus on leading and directing its subordinates to closely coordinate with the Police, Border Guard, Customs, and Coast Guard Region Commands 1 and 2 to develop projects and plans to fight against, prevent and control drug trafficking at sea; strengthen reconnaissance at seaports, estuaries, ship locks and key areas; regularly share information about drug trafficking at sea and port areas. Inspect, control, and monitor fishing vessels before their offshore voyage and those passing through border areas, border gates, and seaports. Deploy strikes to suppress crimes at sea, especially drug-related crimes, especially on holidays, Tet, and periods of important political events of the country.

Moreover, it coordinates with local Party committees and authorities to grasp the business situation of enterprises in port and coastal areas; reviews and classifies subjects with criminal records, subjects with suspicious signs, and subjects with high potential for drug crimes to make a watch list for further control, persuasion, deterrence, and education. When detecting signs of illegal drug trafficking, it will make counter plan in a strict, scientific, specific, and meticulous manner, and conduct resolute, thorough, and continuous fight regardless of day or night. When finishing a case with arrested suspects, it will quickly make report, consolidate evidence, coordinate with the police and the Procuracy to prosecute, hand over suspects, documents, and exhibits to competent authorities. After each case and period of fighting, it holds preliminary summary, and review of the coordination in fighting drug-related crimes, draw lessons and propose countering measures for the following period.

Third, improving the quality of training, enhancing expertise and operational experience for officers and soldiers. DETF2’s Party Committee and Command will improve the work of fostering professional expertise and training the bravery and working methods of its officers and soldiers, especially young and newly graduate ones. The training process is closely combined with the imparting of experience in combat; effectively implement the focus of "firmly mastering basic skills; improving the quality and effectiveness of the work of grasping the situation, combating, preventing, and combating drug-trafficking at sea".

Along with training and education at the unit, it will also coordinate with the Police and Border Guard forces of the provinces to hold training courses on investigation and case solving skills; send its officers and employees to attend training courses on professional skills held by the superiors. At the same time, it attaches importance to employment new staff, basing on the results of study and training at schools and units of the Vietnam Coast Guard.

Fourth, establishing quality secret networks. DETF2 regularly coordinates with local authorities and functional forces to select prestigious organisations and individuals in the community, conduct professional training, grasp and provide information related to crimes, and build quality secret networks. In addition, it will deploy the skilled and experienced staff to key areas to select forces to build secret agents. What’s more, it will focus on effectively implement regulations and programmes signed with units and localities and building other working coordination relationships.

With strong political will, the spirit of proactively overcoming difficulties, not afraid of hardships and sacrifices, officers and soldiers of Drug Enforcement Task Force No. 2 continue to promote their specialised and core roles, closely coordinate with local Party committees, governments and functional agencies, effectively performing the task of fighting and preventing drug-related crimes at sea, contributing to bringing peace to the people and accompanying fishermen in their "offshore fishing".

Senior Colonel PHAN QUANG HUY, Head of the Drug Enforcement Task Force No. 2