Warning about drugs "disguised" as soft drinks and functional foods

Beware of drugs disguised as food and drinks in front of school gates. (Illustration photo)

Beware of drugs disguised as food and drinks in front of school gates. (Illustration photo)

Recently, the drug crime situation has been very complicated. Drug storage, transportation, and illegal trading lines mostly operate on a large scale, over a large area, inter-provincially or cross-nationally.

In addition to traditional methods and tricks, drug criminals thoroughly use information technology and the Internet to exchange, buy and sell, and shorten transaction time with high security.

Typically: Setting up closed chat groups on foreign social networking platforms such as Telegram, Viber...; changing transaction and transportation methods by using intermediary transportation units such as Grab, Be... to transport and trade drugs to avoid detection, investigation and discovery by authorities.

Drugs are disguised and "hidden" in two forms: Goods (cakes, candies, functional foods, pharmaceuticals...) containing drugs or drugs mixed, marinated, packaged in the form of food, drinks, herbs, electronic cigarettes...

If people accidentally use these mixed and marinated goods and foods, they can easily get poisoned, even endangering their lives.

On the other hand, the subjects processing and producing new types of drugs, not yet on the list of prohibited drugs, are mixed in e-cigarette solutions (electronic cigarette ingredients contain nicotine - an addictive substance, which can have negative effects on children's brain development, affect pregnant women and the development of children; in severe cases, it can cause slow heart rate, low blood pressure, arrhythmia, shock, coma, and even death).

"Disguised" drugs are often contained in weight loss tea packages, cordyceps, fruit juice powder packages printed with confusing words such as: Crispy fruit, Crispy fruit grape, Mango or "strawberry juice", "fun water", "White Coffee", "CHALI"... transported to Vietnam as hand-carried goods, by road, water, air...; sold at online shops, entertainment venues, bars, pubs...

Alarmingly, these subjects also sell at educational institutions, universities, high schools... to attract and entice students to use drugs.

From the above methods and tricks, the police force recommends that people raise their vigilance, regularly update and monitor information and propaganda about the harmful effects of drugs (especially new types of drugs); methods and tricks of drug criminals to recognize and prevent drug-related risks and dangers to themselves, their families and society.

Authorities also recommend paying attention to educating and advising their children of all ages not to participate in storing or using drugs, not to use electronic cigarettes, functional foods, stimulants of unknown origin or not yet licensed by the government for circulation in Vietnam.

Parents need to regularly pay attention to their children's psychological and physiological manifestations, promptly detect any abnormal manifestations in their children's daily routines and psychology, and promptly take measures to encourage and prevent them if they notice that their children are using foods and stimulants of unknown origin.

People are requested to actively participate in the fight against drug-related crimes, closely coordinate with the police force and relevant agencies in the fight against drug-related crimes; boldly report organizations and individuals who illegally store, trade, or use drugs to the local authorities where they reside.

Mobilize drug addicts to participate in drug rehabilitation at state-run treatment facilities or private drug rehabilitation facilities so that they can give up drugs, contributing to ensuring security and order in the province.

For business establishments with conditions and other business households, it is absolutely forbidden to participate in buying, selling, storing, and transporting foods, electronic cigarettes, stimulants (which may be disguised drugs) of unknown origin... to display and sell, which can easily confuse people when buying and using them as regular foods.

Source link