Prevent illegal use of laughing gas

A warehouse of N2O laughing gas cylinders in Ha Long city, Quang Ninh province was discovered by the police.

At around 0:15 a.m. on April 27, the Economic Police Team of Ha Long City Police in coordination with Market Management Team No. 1, Market Management Department of Quang Ninh Province inspected a car with license plate 14A-666.16 parked at the warehouse door at Group 15, Area 4B, Hung Thang Ward, Ha Long City. At the time of inspection, the authorities discovered a total of 10 metal cylinders in the car, suspected to be N2O gas.

Resolutely prevent

Continuing to inspect the warehouse and also the rented room of Dang Tuan Long, born in 1995, the authorities discovered 72 more metal cylinders with the same characteristics as above, suspected of containing N2O gas. Dang Tuan Long, the driver and owner of the above gas cylinders, could not present any related invoices or documents. The Economic Police Team of Ha Long City Police has drawn up a record, temporarily seized the evidence and handled it according to the provisions of law.

Previously, on the afternoon of April 25, Quang Yen Town Police conducted an administrative inspection at the home of Vu Van Anh, born in 1993, residing in Zone 4, Phong Coc Ward, Quang Yen Town, discovered and made a record of temporarily confiscating 21 cylindrical metal cylinders containing used N2O gas, 210 unused rubber balloons, and a set of N2O gas dispensers.

Further investigation determined that Vu Van Anh had another facility in Cam Luy village, Cam La commune, Quang Yen town. During the inspection, the authorities temporarily seized 66 metal cylinders of various types, including 38 cylinders containing N2O gas and decanting tools including a gas cylinder with fire gas, two electronic scales, two spring-clock scales, a blowtorch, plastic bags to seal the mouth of the gas cylinder and a truck to transport it for sale.

At the time of inspection, Vu Van Anh could not present a business license, had no invoices or documents proving the origin of the above gas and confessed that he had decanted the N2O gas himself for the purpose of selling it to karaoke service businesses and people in need of it to pump into laughing gas balloons to collect the difference and make a profit.

Faced with the above situation, Quang Ninh Provincial Police have increased inspections and continuously detected and handled many violations related to the illegal production, trading and use of laughing gas.

Major Tran Vu Hai, Captain of the Economic and Official Crime Investigation Police Team, Ha Long City Police, said: The subjects ordered laughing gas through social networks for business and use; used unofficial phone numbers, fake Facebook and Zalo accounts, and unclear background and identity, making it difficult to verify and handle.

The subjects ordered laughing gas through social networks for business and use; used unofficial phone numbers, fake Facebook and Zalo accounts, and had unclear backgrounds and identities, making verification and handling difficult.

Major Tran Vu Hai, Ha Long City Police

Since the beginning of 2023, Quang Ninh Provincial Police have coordinated with functional forces to detect and handle dozens of cases involving many subjects illegally trading laughing gas, Shisha, electronic cigarettes... and confiscated thousands of N2O gas cylinders.

A typical case is the Ha Long City Police discovered Cao Van Tung, born in 1992, residing in Yet Kieu Ward, Ha Long City, illegally trading in laughing gas, confiscating 111 cylinders of laughing gas without legal invoices and documents. Dong Trieu Town Police discovered, investigated, and arrested a group of subjects illegally trading in laughing gas, confiscating a total of 529 N2O cylinders at many different locations.

Strengthen education and propaganda

NTM is currently a 12th grade student at a high school in Cam Pha city, Quang Ninh province. After going to a friend's birthday party, being invited and enticed, she used "laughing gas" to try a new feeling. From the feeling of excitement and satisfaction when using it the first time, NTM continued to use it many times, and then, she contacted herself to order a "laughing gas" bottle to use. NTM shared: "The first time I used "laughing gas", I felt everything around me spinning and shaking, listening to my friends talking normally also felt funny. When I didn't use that laughing gas, I felt very restless, missing that "high" feeling". Using it for two years in high school made my fingers numb and gradually lost sensation, along with emotional disorders, irritability, and uncontrollable anxiety.

The first time I used laughing gas, I felt everything around me spinning and shaking. Listening to my friends talking normally made me laugh. When I don’t use laughing gas, I feel very restless, missing that “high” feeling.

NTM, a 12th grade student in Cam Pha city, Quang Ninh

The climax was after using laughing gas with a friend for three hours combined with cannabis essential oil, NTM fainted on the spot and was taken by his family to the Quang Ninh Provincial Mental Health Protection Hospital. After a period of active treatment, his health and mental state have stabilized.

At the Quang Ninh Provincial Mental Health Protection Hospital, in recent years, the number of patients hospitalized for treatment due to “laughing gas” poisoning has been increasing continuously, most of them are young people, many of whom are only 6th and 7th graders. Doctor Cao Thi Xuan Thuy, Head of the Department of Mental Disorders Due to Substance Use, said:

Laughing gas when used in large amounts will lead to a state of immediate poisoning, the patient may have a state of ecstasy, joy, excitement, may also have heart rhythm disorders, then have immediate hallucinations and disappear immediately, but the long-term symptoms are numbness in the limbs and loss of consciousness. If used continuously for a long time, it will lead to a state of chronic poisoning, anxiety, depression. Many young people subjectively think that using laughing gas and laughing gas is just entertainment, not harmful to health.

The use of laughing gas seems to have become a pastime among young people when laughing gas is an item that can be easily bought at any party. Mr. Nguyen Van Hung, residing in Hong Hai ward, Ha Long city said: “Normally, when my friends and I go to bars or pubs, we also order laughing gas to have fun. Buying laughing gas is easy, just order and they will serve it to your place.

Mr. NTS, the owner of a bar that illegally sells laughing gas and was administratively fined in Ha Long city, said: “A large 27kg cylinder imported costs from 150,000 VND to 170,000 VND/cylinder, and if bought in small quantities, it costs from 200,000 VND to 210,000 VND/cylinder. When pumping it into balloons to sell to customers, depending on the quantity, the price ranges from 150,000 VND to 180,000 VND/balloon. 1kg can pump 9 to 10 balloons.”

With this data, importing laughing gas cylinders to fill balloons for sale, the owners of these establishments can earn up to 40 times more profit. For profit, many people have defied the law, even accepting administrative penalties to trade in N2O gas.

The business of N2O gas is increasingly flourishing, while N2O gas is not a drug or precursor, it is on the list of chemicals that are produced and traded with conditions in the industry and is specified in some medical fields. There are no sanctions for users of this gas.

Violations of the law on N2O production and trading are not subject to criminal prosecution but only administrative sanctions. From using “laughing gas”, users become excited and seek out stimulants that bring stronger feelings, including drugs, which is the source of crime and potentially causes complications in security and order.

To eliminate the laughing gas business, in addition to the active participation of the police force, families and schools need to monitor, propagate and educate children and students. In addition, political and social organizations, with the core force being the local youth union, need to step up propaganda so that young people understand the harmful effects and protect themselves from this dangerous gas.

According to Nhan Dan

Source link