The Ministry of Public Security (MPS) on July 11 said that drug crimes in Thanh Hoa province remain very complex with illegal drug storage, transport, and trading still operating on a large scale, inter-provincially and transnationally.

In addition to familiar tricks, drug criminals use modern methods, especially information technology and the Internet which allows them to exchange, buy and sell drugs with shortened transaction times and higher security. 

They have also set up private chat groups on foreign social networks such as Telegram and Viber; and changed methods of transactions and transportation by using intermediaries such as Grab and Bee to carry and trade drugs in order to escape detection, investigation and discovery by authorities.

Drugs are disguised in two forms, either commodities (sweets, functional foods and medicines) containing narcotics, or drugs mixed or packaged in the form of food, beverages, herbs or e-cigarettes. People accidentally using these commodities can easily be poisoned.

In addition, criminals have processed and produced new kinds of drugs not found on the list of substances prohibited from being mixed in e-cigarette solutions (e-cigarette ingredients contain nicotine, an addictive substance, which can adversely affect the brain development of children, and affect pregnant women and children's development; In severe cases, it can cause bradycardia, hypotension, arrhythmia, shock, coma, or even death).

The hidden drugs are contained in weight loss tea products, cordyceps and fruit powder packages with printed words which may cause misunderstanding- such as Crispy fruit, Crispy fruit grape, Mango, or "nuoc dau", "nuoc vui", ca phe "White Coffee", "CHALI". 

The drugs are brought to Vietnam across border gates by travelers, transported by land, waterways or air, and put on sale at online shops, entertainment places, bars and pubs. The police said the drugs are also available at education establishments, universities and even high schools.

The police have asked people to heighten their vigilance, and regularly view information from official agencies about the harm caused by drugs, especially new kinds of drugs,and the methods and tricks of criminals.

The police have called on parents to pay attention to educating their children, and prohibit them from possessing or using drugs, e-cigarettes, functional foods, and psychostimulants with unknown origins or substances that have not been licensed to circulate in Vietnam.

Tien Dung