Quang Ninh: Strengthening drug prevention and control

In recent times, Quang Ninh province has synchronously and drastically implemented many solutions to prevent and combat drugs with the participation of the entire political system, functional forces and people. The positive results achieved have contributed significantly to maintaining security and order, creating a stable and safe environment for socio-economic development in the Northeast region of the country.

Ha An Ward Police, Quang Yen Town coordinated with Ha An Border Control Station and Hon Gai Port Border Guard Station to test for drugs on staff on boats.

Uncompromising fight against drug crimes

In the fight against and handling of drug-related crimes, the functional forces of Quang Ninh have promoted their specialized, core roles and closely coordinated; at the same time, they have sought the help of the people in providing information and denouncing crimes, in order to deploy professional measures and grasp the situation; resolutely not allowing criminals to take advantage of Quang Ninh province as a transit point for drugs abroad and vice versa, and at the same time, not allowing the formation of complex crime and drug-related hotspots and evils.

From 2020 to present, the whole province has arrested and handled 3,673 cases, 8,205 subjects committing drug crimes, of which 3,443 cases, 6,017 subjects were criminally prosecuted, and hundreds of kilograms of various types of drugs were seized.

In particular, many cases and special projects went beyond the locality, with close coordination with specialized forces of the Ministry of Public Security and functional forces of other localities across the country to dismantle inter-provincial and transnational networks and groups; and to destroy many cases and special projects of national and international scale.

Marijuana drugs are packaged into objects and sent via air, parcels, and postal items to avoid detection by authorities. Photo: Quang Ninh Provincial Police

A typical example is Project 424Q, in April 2024, Quang Ninh Provincial Police coordinated with the Department of Investigation Police on Drug Crimes (Ministry of Public Security) and the Police of provinces and cities to destroy a network of illegal trading of 600kg of marijuana drugs on cyberspace, operating nationwide, of an especially serious nature, led by Nguyen Phi Co (born in 1995, residing in Ho Chi Minh City).

After more than 1 year of fighting the case, up to now, the Provincial Police have arrested and criminally prosecuted a total of 26 subjects (residing in Quang Ninh, Hanoi, Bac Ninh, Ha Nam, Ninh Binh, Quang Nam and Ho Chi Minh City), the total seized evidence includes 146kg of marijuana, 7.5 billion VND and 2 cars, along with many related evidences.

Lieutenant Colonel Vu Huy Binh, Head of the Drug Crime Investigation Prevention Team, Drug Crime Investigation Department (Provincial Police) said that the subjects took advantage of cyberspace to contact, connect, buy and sell marijuana (originating from Southeast Asia), transport it into Vietnam by air, border, then transfer from the southern provinces to Hanoi and then take it to other provinces and cities for consumption. The method of the subjects was to package and hide drugs in objects and send them by air, parcels, and postal items to avoid detection by authorities.

Along with that, from the work of managing the area and managing subjects, the drug crime investigation police force of Quang Ninh Provincial Police discovered, established project 324-H in 2024 and destroyed a ring of illegal transportation and trafficking of synthetic drugs from the Laos - Kon Tum border to Quang Ninh for consumption.

The scene of the arrest of subjects in a transnational drug ring from Kon Tum to Quang Ninh for consumption. Photo: Quoc Xa (CTV)

This is a particularly serious ring, led by Dinh Thi Ha (born in 1978, residing in Cua Ong ward, Cam Pha city), operating inter-provincially from the Lao border area through Bo Y border gate (Kon Tum) to Quang Ninh, with close collusion between subjects with criminal records. Up to now, through the process of expanding the case, Quang Ninh Provincial Police in coordination with Binh Thuan Provincial Police, Anti-Drug Task Force No. 1 (Coast Guard Command) and Ha Long City Police (old) have seized 3kg of crystal meth, arrested 5 subjects, and cut off the drug ring that was budding with a large amount of drugs being brought to Quang Ninh for consumption.

The success of these two major projects not only demonstrates the proactiveness and determination in the professional work of the drug crime investigation police force of Quang Ninh Provincial Police, but also proves the effectiveness of inter-sectoral and inter-provincial coordination in the fight against drug crimes; contributing to maintaining security and order, protecting a peaceful life for the people.

Strengthening management, control and drug addiction treatment

Implementing the direction of the Central Government and the Ministry of Public Security, Quang Ninh province always identifies drug prevention as an important political task, which must always be implemented comprehensively, continuously and resolutely, without stopping or compromising. The province has concretized the Central Government's directions to suit and improve the effectiveness of drug crime prevention in the province.

The focus is on Directive No. 32-CT/TU dated May 5, 2023 of the Provincial Party Committee Standing Committee on strengthening and improving the effectiveness of drug prevention and control in the new situation; Plan No. 542-KH/TU dated May 26, 2025 on implementing Conclusion No. 132-KL/TW dated March 18, 2025 of the Politburo on continuing to implement Directive 36-CT/TW of the Politburo; Decision No. 285-QD/TU dated June 18, 2021 of the Provincial Party Committee Standing Committee on establishing a Provincial Steering Committee on building a grassroots security model, accordingly, Party committees and authorities at all levels have strengthened leadership and direction in implementing measures to prevent crime and prevent drugs at the grassroots level. The work of educating, managing, and helping people who have been pardoned, released from prison, and completed drug rehabilitation programs to reintegrate into the community has been effectively implemented to prevent relapse.

Drug addiction treatment center trainees in labor therapy.

The Provincial People's Committee has also issued a plan to implement a peak period of general review and statistics of drug addicts and illegal drug users, prepare records to send subjects to the Provincial Drug Rehabilitation Center and manage them after rehabilitation (in 2021 and 2023); a plan to build "Drug-free communes, wards and towns" and "Drug-free districts" in the province...

That shows that the role, responsibility, awareness and synchronous participation of the entire political system in drug prevention and control work have been clearly improved.

The province also has many specific policies and mechanisms on drug prevention and control, being the first province and one of the few provinces/cities in the country to issue this policy. From 2020 to present, the Provincial People's Committee has allocated over 222 billion VND from public funds to implement drug prevention and control work (including funds to support policies for drug addiction treatment, post-treatment management of drug addiction; support for specialized forces to prevent drug crimes in the province).

With a total area of ​​nearly 40 hectares, with all specialized areas, the Provincial Drug Rehabilitation Center is organizing drug rehabilitation for 768 students. Major Pham Hoang Trung, Deputy Head of the Drug Crime Investigation Department of the Provincial Police, said: We arrange educational staff, be close to, listen to the thoughts and aspirations of students and provide career guidance for students at the facility. Many students after rehabilitation have clearly recognized the harmful effects of drugs and actively cooperate with functional forces in crime prevention work.

Raising community awareness, determined to maintain a "drug-free" area

Bai Chay Ward Police tested bar employees for drugs in the area.

Along with fighting and suppressing crime, Quang Ninh pays special attention to propaganda, education and drug prevention. During the 2025 Drug Prevention Action Month, many propaganda conferences were held in key areas, businesses and schools.

Typically, on June 22, 2025, the Provincial Police coordinated with the Youth Union of Vietnam National Coal and Mineral Industries Group and the Youth Union of Khe Cham Coal Company to organize propaganda on drug prevention for union members and young people. The content of the communication focused on new types of drugs such as: "Happy water", "chill cigarettes", "happy cakes", "drug milk tea"... Diverse forms of communication through images, videos, and Q&A exchanges helped raise awareness and vigilance in the community, especially among young people.

Also at the propaganda session, content about tricks of other social evils such as gambling, prostitution, black credit, etc. were also shared to raise awareness among the people.

The provincial police coordinated with the Youth Union of Vietnam National Coal and Mineral Industries Group and the Youth Union of Khe Cham Coal Company to organize propaganda on drug prevention and control for union members and young people.

With high political determination and the synchronous participation of the entire political system, Quang Ninh province is determined to build a locality free of crime and drug abuse. The functional forces, especially the police force, have been and are continuing to closely monitor the locality, proactively detect and promptly handle violations; at the same time, effectively carry out propaganda work, manage addicts, support drug rehabilitation, and post-rehabilitation management.

Up to now, the province has implemented the construction of drug-free communes, wards and towns in 78 areas (cleaning 44 areas and keeping clean 34 areas). Quang Ninh commits to continue to closely coordinate with central ministries, branches and localities nationwide to effectively implement drug prevention plans and programs; promote the role of families, schools and communities in preventing and repelling the dangers of drugs.

This year's drug prevention action month has the theme "Shared determination - For a drug-free community", continuing to affirm the determination of the entire political system and the entire population in drug prevention work; at the same time, spreading a widespread propaganda campaign on drug prevention work to all levels, sectors and the masses; thereby, promoting the combined strength; contributing to building a drug-free community, a safe, healthy, orderly and disciplined society; effectively serving the cause of socio-economic development of the country.

Khanh Dan - Khanh Nam

Source: https://baoquangninh.vn/quang-ninh-tang-cuong-phong-chong-va-kiem-soat-ma-tuy-3363910.html