Vietnam hosts international conference on enhancing cooperation in combating transnational drug crimes opens

Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binh speaks at the event.

Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binh attended and delivered a keynote speech at the meeting, chaired by General To Lam, Minister of Public Security.

The event saw the presence of nearly 200 delegates from various countries, including Cambodia, Laos, China, Thailand, Myanmar, the Philippines and Vietnam, and international organizations such as the Drug Enforcement Administration of the U.S (DEA), Australian Federal Police Office (AFP), South East Asia and Pacific Office of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), as well as representatives of Vietnamese ministries and agencies.

Speaking at the event, Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binh said that narcotics are a global threat and a global critical issue, which has been causing negative consequences to all aspects of the socio-economic life of a country. What is more, this crime leads to other types of crime such as terrorist financing, corruption and money laundering. In the context of international integration and globalization, the situation of  transnational illicit drug trafficking has become increasingly complicated and unpredictable.

According to the Deputy Prime Minister, over the past 20 years, the Vietnamese Government has pursued a consistent policy and implement comprehensive measures to curb both drug demand and supply and reduce the harms of narcotics.

Vietnam has also actively promoted cooperation with other signatories of agreements, neighboring countries and international organizations, such as the UNODC, DEA and AFP in preventing and combating drug-related crimes.

Deputy Prim Minister Truong Hoa Binh, Minister of Public Security To Lam and other senior delegates.

Deputy PM Truong Hoa Binh also called on partner countries and organizations to advocate the drug control initiatives and efforts of countries in the region, support equipment for law enforcement forces, open professional training courses on capacity building for anti-drug forces of countries in the region.

During the conference, the delegates have been expected to share latest information, discuss emerging trends and potential risks to countries inside and outside the region. They would also focus on analyzing and assessing the situation of drug trafficking and production, identify new drug trafficking routes, drug trading and production hubs as well as ringleaders of illegal drug trafficking and production networks in the region.

Based on the above discussions, the conference would discuss out solutions and strategies for regional effective cooperation in preventing and controlling drug-related crimes on cross-border routes, particularly those connecting the Golden Triangle and other areas.