Are public security forces in Vietnam equipped with submachine guns?

Are public security forces in Vietnam equipped with submachine guns?

Pursuant to Clause 1, Article 18 of the Law on Management and Use of Weapons, Explosives and Combat Gears in 2017 stipulating entities equipped with military weapons in Vietnam as follows:

1. The following entities are equipped with military weapons:

a) Vietnam People’s Army;

b) Vietnam Civil Defense Force;

c) Vietnam Coast Guards

d) Vietnam People's Public Security

dd) Cipher force;

e) The investigating authority affiliated to People’s Supreme Procuracy;

g) Foresters and Vietnam Fisheries Resources Surveillance;

h) Aviation security force;

i) Customs officers working at border checkpoints and specialized forces carrying out tasks of anti-smuggling affiliated to Vietnam Customs.

Pursuant to Clause 1.a, Article 1 of the Amendments to the Law on Management and Use of Weapons, Explosives and Combat Gears in 2019 stipulating as follows:

2. Military weapons include:

a) Weapons that are manufactured or crafted satisfactory to technical standards and design of legal manufacturers and provided for people’s armed forces and other forces as specified herein to perform certain tasks, including:

Firearms: handguns, rifles, submachine guns, light machine guns, anti-tank guns, grenade launchers;

Light weapons: heavy machine guns, mortars, DKZ rifles, anti-aircraft machine guns, man-portable anti-tank rocket launchers;

Heavy weapons: fighter aircrafts, attack helicopters, tanks, armored vehicles, warships, submarines, artillery, anti-aircraft artillery, rockets;

Bombs, mines, grenades, torpedoes, naval mines; ammunition for weapons specified in this Point.

As regulations above, submachine guns are military weapons, and public security forces in Vietnam shall be equipped with submachine guns.

Are customs officers working at border checkpoints in Vietnam equipped with submachine guns?

Pursuant to Article 19 of the Law on Management and Use of Weapons, Explosives and Combat Gears in 2017 stipulating types of military weapons provided for customs officers working at border checkpoints in Vietnam as follows:

1. Cipher force, the investigating authority affiliated to People’s Supreme Procuracy and aviation security force shall be equipped with handguns and their ammunition.

2. Foresters and customs officers working at border checkpoints and specialized forces carrying out tasks of anti-smuggling shall be equipped with handguns, SMGs and their ammunition.

3. Vietnam Fisheries Resources Surveillance shall be equipped with handguns, SMGs, LMGs, HMGs and machine guns whose diameter of barrel is not more than 14.5mm and their ammunition.

4. The equipment of military weapons other than those prescribed in Clause 1, 2 and 3 of this Article in case of necessity shall be decided by the Prime Minister.

As regulations above, customs officers working at border checkpoints shall be equipped with SMGs.

Best regards!