Confrontation… across the country
“The Paths of… Cannabis” not only demonstrates the courage and daring spirit of journalists in a challenging field, but also showcases their ability to explore topics beyond the borders of a single country. It demonstrates that Vietnamese journalists are ready to confront new difficulties and challenges, pursue their topics, and see things through to the end.
Journalist Mai Tam Hieu shared: “At the end of February 2023, a notorious gangster from Hai Phong , who had been famous about 20 years prior, called me to… go abroad. The reason was hard to imagine. “I’m going to Thailand to grow marijuana,” he said. I asked, “Is it dangerous?” He replied, “There are already people running farms there, and all the Vietnamese-born marijuana growers are also going there to research growing marijuana. They’ve given permission…”
As soon as they received this information, journalist Mai Tam Hieu and his colleagues in the editorial team discussed ideas, developed a plan, and reported to the editorial board for approval of the topic. Because their work mainly took place abroad and they were unfamiliar with the local area, the team spent considerable time researching information both domestically and internationally beforehand. The team traveled along the border provinces from the Northwest to An Giang to assess the situation and seek opinions from relevant authorities to see if they had any information about cannabis cultivation in neighboring countries.
A group of reporters tour the premises displaying cannabis products in a shop in Bangkok. Photo: Provided by the interviewee.
Not only did the group incur significant travel costs using various means of transportation across countries, but they also encountered unique difficulties in each country. Besides Thailand and Laos, their journeys to Cambodia were marked by numerous instances of detection, obstruction, and expulsion. Meanwhile, in Cambodia, the border provinces are home to a high concentration of criminals. These individuals easily commit illegal acts, and if there is trouble in one country, they will flee across the border to another.
Working in other countries, the difficulties weren't just about travel and language barriers, but also about contacting key figures in the cannabis cultivation industry. There were times when the team had to wait five days and make multiple appointments before finally reaching a kingpin to obtain information. Typically, those involved in growing and producing this plant are wary of strangers. If anyone else approaches the cultivation, production, or processing area, they are immediately obstructed, chased away, or even followed.
A cannabis farm in Kanchanaburi province (central Thailand). Photo: Provided by the interviewee.
Journalist Mai Tam Hieu recounted: "After venturing deep into the territories of various countries and through numerous introductions, our team of reporters approached the kingpins, who came from several major countries around the world such as the United States and Canada. They were the ones behind the entire process of supplying seeds, planting, caring for, harvesting, and selling cannabis. However, even after meeting them, extracting information from these individuals was not easy. Some were only interested in selling in large quantities and refused to share any other information. Despite the many difficulties 'in a foreign land' and working in a challenging environment, the team remained determined to complete the project and uncover the truth."
Flexible and responsive every minute, in every situation that arises.
Immediately after its publication, the series "The Paths of Cannabis," with its simple, direct, and easy-to-understand investigative reporting style, attracted a large number of readers. It also achieved a record-breaking number of views for the Nhan Dan Newspaper, with much of the information from the articles being edited and shared on social media platforms, drawing significant public attention. The series contributed to raising awareness among the public about the potential dangers of drug trafficking, even while the drugs are still abroad. In fact, thanks to the series, the police, border guards, and customs authorities have learned how to identify cannabis and applied new, appropriate operational measures to prevent its smuggling through various routes.
In investigative journalism, every reporter can only make assumptions; they can't know in advance how things will unfold, what the process will be like, or what obstacles might arise. Everyone must be flexible and quick-witted every minute, in every situation that arises… “When we launched this series, a crucial principle was that we were not allowed to violate the law. Some countries may allow the sale of marijuana, but upon returning, we are not allowed to bring it into our own territory. In any country, we must abide by its laws; we cannot use the specifics of our profession to justify that we are doing investigative reporting on this field while potentially violating the law,” journalist Mai Tam Hieu confided.
A group of reporters at a cannabis farm in Kanchanaburi province (central Thailand). Photo: Provided by the interviewee.
Following the publication of this series of articles, the Thai authorities have implemented stricter measures regarding the cultivation and use of cannabis. Most recently, in February 2024, the Thai Ministry of Public Health proposed prohibiting the commercial use of cannabis, allowing it only for medical purposes…
Le Tam
Source: https://www.congluan.vn/tiep-can-nhung-neo-duong-can-sa-post299585.html
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