School of Global, Urban and Social Studies Drug and Drug Trafficking in the Greater Mekong Sub-regional: A Case Study of Vietnam and its Shared Borders Hai Thanh Luong School of Global, Urban and Social Studies RMIT University

Framework of Presentation Drug Production, Consumption, and Trafficking in the GMS An Overview Analysis in Vietnam Current Policies to Cooperative Combat Drug Trafficking in Vietnam

Illicit drugs (heroin and methamphetamine) : US $31.3 billion Regional Overview Illicit drugs (heroin and methamphetamine) : US $31.3 billion

Opium poppy cultivation in GMS Opium poppy cultivation in Myanmar increased from 21,600 hectares in 2006, the year when opium cultivation reached its lowest level, to 7,600 hectares in 2014. In Lao PDR, poppy cultivation increased from 1,500 hectares in 2007 to 6,200 hectares in 2014, but due to differences in the methodology used in 2012, a trend could not be established. Thus, opium poppy cultivation in the region as a whole has nearly tripled since 2006, reaching over 60,000 hectares (UNODC 2014, p13

Vietnam: An Overview 3rd and 13th most populous nation in ASEAN region and the world Over 90 million residents The country is divided into 3 regions: North Central South N.B: The boundaries and names shown and the designations used on maps do not imply official endorsement or acceptance by the Author

- Destination - Transit - Manufacturing… why not?

Drug Trafficking Routes entry into Vietnam

Drug-Related Cases and Arrests in Vietnam (2008-2014)

In the North - West area: Lao PDR Close proximity of the Golden Triangle region. The common drugs trafficked were opium, heroin and ATS. The quantity of illegal drugs: The number of ATS trafficking and the amount of ATS in single case tended to be remarkably increasing. 90% the amount of seized heroin and opium in the northern and central northern areas Some certain amount of the trafficked illicit drugs were transported from “blurred points” between two side’s borderland, particularly through at Chalo, Cautreo, Laobao, Namcan, Tay Trang International Border Gates

The South- West Border line: Cambodia The major types of drugs trafficked into Vietnam were ATS, in which there was even ice form of methamphetamine. Along with that, on this route, the fact has showed that trafficking precursors have been increasing for the past years Some certain amount of the trafficked illicit drugs were used to meet the demands of drug abusers at the social evil pots, casinos at Moc Bai, Ta Keo Border Gates

On the Northern border line: China Noticeable issues is parallel drug trafficking trends at the same time existed. The number and the amount of psychotropic substances trafficked from outside into Vietnam Meanwhile, opium and heroin trafficking cases from Vietnam to outside. Almost all National border gates, open-economic zones, trading areas on this border line found drug trafficking cases. Among them, some National border gates such as Mong Cai, Tan Thanh, Huu Nghi and Lao Cai very often found drug trafficking with great amount of drugs.

Unilateral Multilateral Bilateral Current Policies to Cooperative Combat Drug Trafficking between Vietnam and its Shared Borderland Unilateral Multilateral Bilateral

Models of Border Liaison Officers (BLOs) To encourage cooperation along and across national borders to enable direct communication of real time information sharing leading to illicit seizures and the capture of traffickers To foster cooperation between different national border law enforcement agency units working at the borders for improved multilateral law enforcement To strengthen and facilitate the regional intelligence network on illicit drug trafficking and to prevent illegal trafficking at the borders To carry out joint operation against transnational organized crime in the region building trust and mutual sharing To promote the dissemination of changing trends and new developments in cross-border trafficking

BLOs’ Fact and Figure Key: 45 BLOs established during the period 1999 - 2013 with UNODC support. 11 BLOs established during the period 2007-2009 18 BLOs established through bilateral agreements between the governments of Thailand/Cambodia and Thailand/Lao PDR independently of UNODC.

Mechanism of BLOs

Moving forward 2015… …“Free Drug Zone” in ASEAN