Ba Ria - Vung Tau Border Guard maintains peace in the maritime border area

VOV.VN - As a specialized and core force in preventing and combating drugs and crimes... for many years, officers and soldiers of the Drug Crime Prevention Department, Ba Ria - Vung Tau Border Guard have had many special projects, fighting and destroying thousands of violations of trade, drugs, human trafficking... in the coastal border area.

High risk of crime

Colonel Cao Xuan Trang, former Deputy Commander, former Head of the Drug and Crime Prevention Department of the Ba Ria - Vung Tau Border Guard, recalled: 20 years ago, the Prime Minister signed Decision No. 1078/2004 approving the project "Organizing a specialized force for drug crime prevention of the Border Guard.

In February 2005, the Provincial Border Guard Command held a ceremony to launch the establishment of the Crime and Drug Prevention Department.

One month later, the Party Cell held its first meeting to determine responsibilities, stabilize the ideology and residence of officers and soldiers; promptly implement assigned tasks, and assign the Party Committee to monitor and direct each aspect of work.

In the early days of its establishment, the Border Guard force discovered and arrested many cases of transporting gasoline and oil of unknown origin at sea.

Colonel Trang said that in 2005, the force was still very small, taking on many tasks at the agency. Although there were still many difficulties, the drug crime prevention force made many efforts, was proactive, resourceful, creative, overcame difficulties, and effectively fought against drug crimes to contribute to maintaining political security, social order and safety in the island border area, and the local seaport gate area.

Border Guards coordinated with inspection forces to discover the transportation of 100 cocaine cakes in a cargo container.

"In 2005, drug crimes were relatively active, forming injection and smoking spots and attracting young people and teenagers. Therefore, the establishment of the anti-crime and drug prevention force at that time was a very timely solution, responding to the political security and social order situation in the locality," said Colonel Cao Xuan Trang.

10 years ago, Lang Hamlet, Thang Nhi Ward, Vung Tau City was considered a "hot spot" for drug trafficking and use in Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province. In the years 2016 - 2019, in Ward 4 and Ward 5 alone, an average of about 200 subjects were sent to drug rehabilitation each year, accounting for 50% of the number of drug addicts in Vung Tau City.

Xom Lang is now a drug-free area.

According to people in Xom Lang, thanks to the efforts and determination of the forces, including the Border Guard, which has synchronously deployed professional measures, it has contributed to preventing and reducing drug abuse, gradually cleaning up the coastal border area.

"About 10 years ago, tourists and other locals did not dare to visit Xom Lang or buy seafood because they were afraid of seeing people openly injecting and smoking drugs. This situation no longer exists, now visitors have started to come to Ben Dinh seafood market because it is easy to get in and out." Mr. Nguyen Van Linh, a resident of Xom Lang, said.

Successfully busted fake gasoline case codenamed VT1020

Since its establishment, the anti-crime and drug forces of the Border Guard of Ba Ria - Vung Tau province have presided over and coordinated the detection and arrest of 825 cases with 918 subjects; seized evidence including 96.3 kg of drugs and many other means and assets. Thereby, 693 cases with 782 subjects have been prosecuted for the acts of "Illegal transportation, trading, and possession of drugs". In addition, the Border Guard has detected and handled 7 cases with 13 subjects related to human trafficking, rescuing 11 victims; detected and handled 239 cases with 342 subjects of trafficking and commercial fraud; prosecuted 2 cases with 7 subjects for the act of "organizing illegal exit for others"...

The harder the more determined

According to the Border Guard Command of Ba Ria - Vung Tau province, in recent years, the situation of criminal activities in border and coastal areas continues to be complicated.

These subjects are promoting their activities in a “non-contact” manner, taking advantage of new technology, social networks and e-commerce trends to connect, trade, transport and deliver goods across the border in large quantities.

Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Van Tien, Deputy Head of the Drug and Crime Prevention Department, Border Guard of Ba Ria - Vung Tau province, said that with the development of 4.0 technology, criminals use many new tricks to deceive the authorities, such as drug buyers and sellers do not directly deliver goods but use social networking sites to exchange and commit crimes. This is a very sophisticated trick and causes difficulties for the drug and crime prevention force.

The Border Guard's anti-drug and crime force coordinated and discovered a subject possessing 45 kg of TNT explosives.

"The more difficult it is, the more determined the anti-crime and drug forces of Ba Ria - Vung Tau province must try, actively train, improve and research to master knowledge and skills to effectively fight against all types of crime," Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Van Tien shared.

Lieutenant Colonel Phan Anh Hiep, Deputy Commander of the Border Guard of Ba Ria - Vung Tau province, said that in the coming time, the situation of criminal activities in the border areas and sea areas of Ba Ria - Vung Tau will continue to be unpredictable, especially high-tech crimes. This reality has posed many difficulties and challenges for the anti-crime and drug forces of the Provincial Border Guard.

Lieutenant Colonel Phan Anh Hiep, Deputy Commander of the Ba Ria-Vung Tau Provincial Border Guard attended and directed professional work for the Drug Prevention Department.

"The crime situation in the border areas of the province's seaports and border gates has many complicated developments, so it requires the drug and crime prevention force and the provincial Border Guard to thoroughly grasp and strictly implement the instructions and orders of superiors, focus on key tasks, and advise the Party Committee and the Command well in directing and leading the work of drug and crime prevention in the province," added Senior Lieutenant Colonel Phan Anh Hiep.

During the process of building and fighting against all kinds of crimes, despite having to constantly face dangers and material temptations, the officers and soldiers of the Border Guard of Ba Ria - Vung Tau province are always united, united, building a strong character, brave spirit, sense of responsibility, maintaining their qualities, worthy of the title "Uncle Ho's soldiers" in the new era.