VietNamNet Bridge – With no more tears to cry, Lo Thi Xam’s only hope is that her two sons can “love their mother more”. The Thai ethnic lady, living in Phat Village, Long Sap Ward, lost her husband to a drug overdose nearly ten years ago. Unfortunately, her sons seem to be on the same path.

Lo Thi Xam (middle) has two sons undergoing drug treatments. — Photo nhandan.com.vn

“In 2010, my husband became addicted to drugs. After that, he went to work in Laos for food and drugs, then died there in 2012. At least his remains were shipped home for burial,” she said.

After the death of her husband, all Xam’s love is for her two sons, Ha Van Huong and Ha Van Hung. However, they began using heroin and quickly became addicted. Hung is undergoing compulsory detoxification while Huong is being treated with methadone.  

“My friends dropped out of school and started using drugs at a young age. Now, ten of them are in rehab. The village has no more young people,” Huong said.

Huong and Hung are only two of 197 drug abusers living in the area, according to Lo Van Duc, head of Long Sap Ward’s Police Department.

Buoc Pat, an isolated village about 27km from the district’s centre, is home to many drug addicts. “Some died, some are in rehab, some are imprisoned while others work in Laos for drugs,” said Duc.

The situation is similar in the neighbouring villages of Chieng Khua, Muong Sang or other villages in districts of Van Ho and Sop Cop. Hoang Thi Xien of Chieng Khua District’s Khua Village said: “My husband passed away. One of my sons died from drugs, another is in rehab”.

Fight against drugs

Long Sap is Moc Chau District’s border ward, sharing nearly 30km of border with Sop Bau District, Laos. Long Sap Border Gate is good for trading, but also creates good conditions for drug trafficking.

Residents have asked local authorities to consider drug trafficking a serious issue. They believe that only by blocking the supply, educating people about harms of drugs and the Government’s regulations and implementing compulsory detoxification, can the harms of drugs be tackled.

However, the situation is getting worse. In 2016, Son La Province’s police detected 860 drug-related cases and arrested 1,391 criminals. In the first six months of 2017, they detected 551 cases with 907 criminals. Moc Chau District police investigated 130 cases and 249 criminals in 2016 as well as 111 cases and criminals in first six months of 2017.

279LL is a case managed by the Ministry of Public Security with police of Moc Chau and Van Ho districts and other related agencies.

In the fifth phase of the case, police had five gunfights with armed Mong ethnic groups, seizing 400 heroin bricks, synthetic drugs and several guns.

In the eighth phase, on July 22, 2017, forces arrested Mua A Hu of Laos’s Sop Bau District, seized 28 heroin bricks and a gun. Expanding the investigation, they arrested two others from Pu Nhan Village, Long Sap Ward.

“This is a serious issue. We have to fight as hard as possible so that they will not dare to smuggle drugs,” said Duc.

On the difficulties of fighting drugs, Tran Nam Hung, deputy director of Long Sap Border Guard Station said “Drug dealers have networks with people in and outside the area. Therefore, it is hard for us to investigate them.”

Say no to abetting

Because of economic difficulties, locals can be bribed and become cogs in the drug dealers’ networks. While drugs can bring profits to some people, they also destroy the lives of others.

Ta Van Tue, deputy head of drug prevention department under Moc Chau Police recommended people not help criminals store drugs, as they could go to jail and cause others to die.

Tue has many experiences in the war on drugs. On July 19, 2014, he and other officers chased 25 drug traffickers. A fireight ensued, leaving Luong Phat Chiem of Son La Province’s Police dead and Nguyen Manh Ha wounded.

Long Sap Border Gate or Long Luong Ward seems peaceful in the day, surrounded by broad green hills. “However, at night, it is the most intensive area of drug crime,” said Lo My Sang whose son is in prison for using drugs. Her only hope now is that her community will be rid of drugs.

VNS