Without sirens blaring or dramatic chases like in movies, the fight against drugs in Yen Bai unfolds silently, persistently, and with a deep sense of humanity. The police officers are not only a force for crime prevention and control, but also friends, brothers, and sisters in each community. For them, only when the people trust them and understand the harmful effects of drugs can these toxic seeds be truly eradicated.
Over the past five years, the province has detected and handled nearly 900 cases involving almost 1,400 drug offenders; more than 100 kg of various types of drugs have been seized, and tens of billions of VND worth of confiscated evidence and vehicles involved in the violations have been forfeited. These figures are proof of the tireless efforts; the result of the coordinated involvement of the entire political system; and the determination to prevent any area from becoming a "hotspot" for drugs.
Yen Bai province has determined that winning the war against drugs cannot rely solely on repressive measures. Raising public awareness, especially among young people, is identified as crucial.
From the remote villages of Mu Cang Chai and Tram Tau districts to the bustling streets of Yen Bai city, diverse and abundant activities are being carried out to raise awareness about drug prevention and control. Community gatherings, communication conferences, and skills training sessions have become a familiar part of daily life. Ms. Giang Thi Mai, a judicial officer in Ho Bon commune, Mu Cang Chai district, said: "Previously, people here considered drugs like painkillers or tonics. However, through these awareness campaigns, they have gradually come to understand the harsh reality of this 'poison.' Since 2022, there have been no cases of relapse in the commune."
The province also implemented the project "Strengthening propaganda work on drug-related crime prevention and control among ethnic minorities and mountainous communities" from 2021 to 2025. Through theatrical performances, mobile film screenings, leaflet distribution, and organizing legal knowledge contests, the propaganda work has reached the emotions and awareness of hundreds of thousands of people.
Over the past five years, the Provincial Police Department has coordinated the organization of eight major conferences with nearly 2,600 participants, and directly disseminated information to over 4,100 students; the Provincial Department of Justice has organized nearly 90 legal awareness conferences, distributed 8,600 leaflets and 30,000 copies of the "Legal Newsletter," which includes content on drug prevention and control. This coordinated approach in propaganda, control, and support for drug rehabilitation has yielded positive results.
To date, 26 communes, wards, and towns in the province have been free from drug-related problems – a very encouraging number considering the province borders several drug hotspots such as Son La and Lai Chau . From 2020 to the present, nearly 2,000 people have undergone compulsory drug rehabilitation, over 100 have voluntarily undergone rehabilitation, and over 1,400 have completed the rehabilitation process.
In particular, over 300 individuals received counseling and job placement services, and nearly 600 received vocational training, helping them reintegrate into the community. In the area of preventing the supply of narcotics, authorities eradicated and destroyed over 1,200 square meters of opium poppy plants, 39 cannabis plants, and other areas of addictive plants, contributing to preventing the illegal cultivation of narcotic plants at its root. Not only the government, but also mass organizations, religious groups, and influential community members joined hands in this effort.
Drug prevention clubs and the "Drug-Free Village" model have become "spiritual fortresses" protecting young people from temptation.
In Tu Le commune, Van Chan district, Mr. Lo Van Tam, a respected village elder, shared: "I always remind the children that drugs are a dead end. It's better to be poor but live honestly than to get involved and bring suffering to the whole family. When people remind and protect each other, criminals have no place to thrive." This close bond between the people and the authorities is the most powerful weapon in the fight against drugs.
Tran Ngoc
Source: https://baolaocai.vn/giu-binh-yen-ban-lang-post404125.html
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