1. Hai Thanh Luong PhD Candidate RMIT University Perth, 9 July 2014
Understanding Cross-Border Drugs Trafficking Networks: A Vietnam's Perspective
Hai Thanh Luong
PhD Candidate
RMIT University
Perth, 9 July 2014

2. Introduction
3rd and 13th most populous nation in ASEAN region and the world
Nearly 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

3. Map of Vietnam and its neighbours
Vietnam is one of the ten countries that compose Southeast Asia
Shared both land and sea with China on the northern line and the Gulf of Tonkin and the South China Sea to the east.
Shared borderland with Cambodia on the South- western line and the Gulf of Thailand
Shared common borderland with Lao PDR on the North- Western areas

4. Vietnam and Drug Trafficking
- Destination - Transit - Manufacturing… why not?

5. Drug-Related Cases and Arrests in Vietnam (2007-2012)

6. 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 part were trafficked through this area and account for 50%,

7. 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. Among some detected cases, there were some cases with more than 10 tones of precursors.
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

8. 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.

9. Why do we need 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

10. Source: to adopt the UNODC: ten years BLOs (1999-2009)

11. BLOs’ Fact and Figure Key:
45 BLOs established during the period 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.
70 BLOs are in operation in the Greater Mekong Sub-region. The independent establishment of BLOs by the countries of the Greater Mekong Sub-region reflects the success of the border liaison office concept and its potential for long term sustainability.

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