Conference to review the pilot implementation of cooperation initiatives between liaison offices on drug and crime prevention and control (BLO)

Lieutenant Colonel Hoang Tam Hieu - Deputy Director of the Drug Crime Investigation Police Department, Ministry of Public Security chaired the conference. Attending the conference were Ms. Ta Thi Bich Lien, Border Management Program Officer, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Hanoi; delegates representing the Police, Customs, Border Guard and functional units of An Giang, Kien Giang and Tay Ninh provinces.

Implementing the content of the conference to deploy the initiative to strengthen cooperation between liaison offices on drug and crime prevention and control between Vietnam and Cambodia within the framework of the Mekong sub-regional action plan to implement the ASEAN border management cooperation roadmap held in Thailand from February 13 to 16, 2022, the Department of Drug Crime Investigation, Ministry of Public Security , in coordination with the national agency on drug prevention and control, Kingdom of Cambodia, the Public Security of An Giang, Kien Giang and Tay Ninh provinces, organized cooperation activities with BLO offices on the Vietnam - Cambodia border from March 1 to April 14, 2023 to improve efficiency, exchange, share information, and report on the work of preventing and combating drug-related crimes and other cross-border crimes.

After more than 1 month of implementation, the Department of Investigation Police on Drug-related Crimes, Ministry of Public Security in coordination with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) organized a conference to assess the preliminary situation and results of the pilot implementation of the cooperation initiative between Vietnam and Cambodia offices to exchange and share information, experiences, difficulties, obstacles and discuss solutions to enhance the effectiveness of BLO activities in the coming time, especially to propose ideas for the summary conference and BLO consultation conference at the regional level held in Thailand in May; update information on the activities of the Border Management Program in Vietnam and actual images of Vietnam's activities bordering Cambodia.

According to the assessment of the delegates, the political security situation in the world continues to have complex developments, with many potential unstable and unpredictable factors. The recent fight against drug crimes in countries shows that crime is increasing the penetration of drugs into Southeast Asian countries, including Vietnam. Drugs are mainly illegally bought and sold from abroad in increasingly large quantities to Vietnam for consumption or transported to third countries for consumption. The fight against drug crimes has also focused on key routes. Specialized forces have coordinated effectively, discovering and destroying many large drug trafficking and transportation lines operating inter-provincially and transnationally. However, there are still some shortcomings and limitations...

At the conference, delegates shared information in a frank and constructive manner, correctly assessing the situation and achievements, thereby proposing solutions to improve the operational efficiency of BLO Vietnam in the coming time, and at the same time contributing ideas to the upcoming regional BLO consultation conference; supporting the fight against drug crimes in border areas to achieve better results. This conference affirmed Vietnam's strong determination and commitment to expanding and strengthening international cooperation with UNODC, countries in the region and the world, for peace, stability and development. At the same time, it was an opportunity for Vietnamese authorities to exchange and share information and experiences, and strengthen the existing friendly cooperation with UNODC.

Ha Thuy - Tan Luc

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