The Vietnamese Ministry of Public Security and South Korean International Co-operation Agency yesterday officially launched a three-year co-operative project to improve Vietnamese authorities' capacity in battling the illegal drug trade.
The project has a total budget of US$2.9 million, of which $2.3 million is funded by the Korean government. It aims to improve infrastructure and boost resources such as information technology in the fight against drugs. Korean authorities hope to help Vietnamese police build an extensive database on drug prevention and help train Vietnamese staff in data analysis techniques that can be used in tracking drug traffickers.
Director of the Korean Narcotics Division Heo Chul-ho said a similar database that Korea had established in 1989 had brought many benefits in efficiently creating strategies to prevent and suppress drug related crimes.
"We want to share with Vietnamese authorities those valuable experiences and information and we hope that all nations fight drug crimes together," Heo said.
Vu Hung Vuong, deputy director of the Vietnamese police's Department of Crime Prevention and Suppression, said the project had come at the right time as Viet Nam was facing many difficulties in collecting, interrogating and analysing information and data about drug-related crimes.
"The department will work closely with other offices to effectively carry out agreements made under this project," he said.
In 2009, Vietnamese police arrested 16,000 people for drug-related offences. They also seized 213kg of heroin and more than 520,000 amphetamine tablets.
S Korea to help Vietnam fight illicit drugs
The two countries launched a three-year co-operative project to improve Vietnamese authorities' capacity in battling the illegal drug trade.
Source: VNS
