Vietnam and Australia strengthen cooperation in drug combat

Lieutenant General Nguyen Van Vien, Director of the Counter-Narcotics Police Department and Deputy Commissioner of the AFP Lesa Gale co-chaired the event.

General Vien said Vietnam is facing great pressure to control illicit drugs trafficked  from the Golden Triangle. Amid international integration and globalization, Vietnam has to combat a large amount of synthetic drugs transported in from other regions of the world, which again makes the drug-related crime situation more complicated in the country. This fact requires closer and more effective coordination among law enforcement forces of countries, he added.

The Vietnamese counter-narcotics agency has strengthened cooperation with police forces of Vietnam’s neighboring countries, ASEAN countries, and increased information exchange with a number of European countries, said Vien.

With their geographical locations favorable for sea and air transport, Vietnam and Australia encounter a common threat. As sea means of transport can traffic large volumes of drugs, illicit drugs transported from the Golden Triangle to Vietnam may then continue to be shipped to Australia.

He expressed his belief that Australia shares Vietnam’s view that illicit drugs should be prevented early and from a far. Therefore, it is necessary to maintain close cooperation and have a higher sense of responsibility, strong determination in the fight against illicit drug trafficking so as to minimize the consequences of drugs for society.

For her part, Deputy Commissioner Gale emphasized that the AFP considers drug prevention and control as a common priority as illict drug trafficking continues causing threats to both countries. The AFP hoped to further cooperate with the Vietnamese police forces to counter these threats.