Expanding the Responsibilities of the Specialized Agency for Drug Crime Prevention and Control

Expanding tasks of the specialized anti-drug crime unit (Illustrative image)

Draft Law on Drug Prevention and Control specifies in Article 13 the duties and powers of the specialized anti-drug crime units under the People’s Police, Border Guard, Coast Guard, and Customs as follows:

- For the specialized unit under the People’s Police:

- Act as the core unit and take the lead in implementing activities for the prevention, deterrence, and combat against drug-related crimes;- Employ necessary reconnaissance and technical measures to investigate and detect drug-related crimes;- Request forensic examinations of necessary specimens and biological samples to uncover drug-related crimes;- Require individuals, families, agencies, organizations, and businesses involved to cooperate and provide information, documents, financial situation, and bank accounts when there is a basis to believe that actions in line with Clauses 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 9 of Article 4 of this Law are being committed;- Require postal and delivery service agencies, organizations, and businesses to open parcels, packages, and goods for inspection when there is a basis to believe that these contain narcotics, precursors, addictive drugs, psychotropic substances, pre-substance drugs, combination drugs containing addictive substances, combination drugs containing psychotropic substances, combination drugs containing precursors; veterinary drugs containing narcotics or precursors;- Take necessary measures to protect informers, witnesses, and victims in drug-related cases;- Collaborate with anti-drug crime agencies of other countries and international anti-drug crime organizations to exchange information and coordinate the investigation of transnational drug-related cases.

- For the specialized units under the Border Guard, Coast Guard, Customs:

- Within their scope and authority, these agencies are responsible for taking the lead, cooperating with the Police and other relevant agencies to implement and apply necessary measures as prescribed by law to prevent, deter, and handle drug-related legal violations in areas or domains they manage and control.

More details can be found in: Draft Law on Drug Prevention and Control.

Nguyen Phu

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