On November 5, Minister of Public Security Gen. Luong Tam Quang, acting on behalf of the Prime Minister, presented the government's investment proposal for the National Target Program on Drug and Crime Prevention and Control for 2026-2035 to the National Assembly.

Vietnam aims to make at least 50% of localities drug-free by 2030

Explaining the need for the program, Quang said drug-related crime and other criminal activities were becoming increasingly complex both in Vietnam and worldwide.

Criminal networks have adopted new and sophisticated methods, some without precedent, while emerging non-traditional security threats are creating additional challenges for law enforcement and drug prevention efforts.

The minister said the program would be implemented in two phases.

The first phase, covering 2026-2030, would require VND45.301 trillion (approximately $1.7 billion). Of this, VND22.45 trillion ($850 million) has already been approved under Resolution No. 163, while the government is seeking an additional VND22.851 trillion ($865 million) for crime prevention and control.

The second phase, from 2031 to 2035, is projected to require VND18.151 trillion ($687 million).

After the first phase, the government will assess implementation results and report to the National Assembly on the financial resources needed for the second phase, in accordance with regulations.

Quang said the program seeks to mobilize the combined strength of Vietnam's political system and society in combating drugs and crime.

It places people at the center of prevention efforts, with commune-level administrative units serving as the foundation for implementation.

The program also emphasizes the application of science and technology, investment in modern equipment, and coordinated measures to improve the effectiveness of drug and crime prevention.

Prevention will remain the primary approach, with authorities expected to intervene early, address risks at the grassroots level, sustainably reduce criminal activity, and curb drug supply, demand and related harm.

According to the government's proposal, the projected VND18.151 trillion ($687 million) budget for 2031-2035 includes VND9.492 trillion ($359 million) in development investment and VND8.659 trillion ($328 million) in recurrent expenditure.

The government has outlined a series of targets to be achieved by 2030.

These include reducing the number of people with drug addiction and those using illicit drugs each year, while ensuring that at least 50% of communes, wards and special administrative zones nationwide are drug-free.

By 2030, authorities aim to detect and eliminate all identified drug-related hotspots, high-risk locations, retail drug dealing operations and areas where plants containing narcotic substances are illegally cultivated.

More than 80% of specialized anti-drug units and personnel within the Border Guard and Coast Guard are expected to receive modern weapons, support equipment and operational technology appropriate to their duties.

The program also sets annual targets for increasing the detection and apprehension of drug-related offenders.

Cases detected and arrests made along land borders, maritime routes, aviation routes and express delivery networks are expected to increase by more than 3% annually.

The same annual increase of more than 3% is targeted for the detection and apprehension of transnational organized drug crime cases.

Meanwhile, the number of drug-related offenses involving cyberspace that are detected and dismantled is expected to rise by more than 5% each year.

Drug rehabilitation is another major component of the program.

By 2030, all public drug rehabilitation facilities are expected to meet the conditions prescribed under Vietnam's Law on Drug Prevention and Control.

More than 70% of communes, wards and special administrative zones with residents affected by drug addiction are expected to establish qualified drug rehabilitation reception and counseling facilities.

At least 70% of centrally governed provinces and cities are also expected to organize voluntary drug rehabilitation services within families and communities.

Beyond drug-related offenses, the government aims to identify, detect and monitor all criminal gangs, dismantle or break up their operations, and take decisive action against organized criminal groups.

Another objective is to prevent dismantled gangs from re-emerging and new criminal groups from forming.

The program also includes electronic monitoring targets.

All minors subject to electronic monitoring measures are expected to be closely supervised, while more than 70% of individuals serving criminal sentences in the community would be placed under electronic monitoring.

For 2035, the government aims to maintain the identification, detection and monitoring of all criminal gangs, alongside measures to dismantle or break up criminal organizations and deal decisively with their activities.

Annual targets include increasing by more than 5% the detection and apprehension of criminal networks, hotspots and groups operating in border areas, at sea and on islands.

The number of locations associated with serious criminal activity and social problems that are dismantled is also expected to increase by more than 5% annually.

In addition, the government seeks an annual increase of more than 5% in joint investigations and coordinated operations with law enforcement agencies in neighboring countries sharing borders with Vietnam.

Lawmakers seek clarification on funding for 2031-2035

Presenting the appraisal report, Phan Chi Hieu, Chairman of the National Assembly's Committee on Legal and Judicial Affairs, said the reviewing bodies had asked the government to clarify several aspects of the proposed financing arrangements.

These include the basis for calculating expenditure for each project and subproject, as well as the principles and legal grounds allowing the government to adjust the allocation of public investment capital and recurrent central budget funding.

The reviewing bodies also requested clarification on how the central government would continue balancing its budget to provide additional support during implementation.

They called for clearer provisions on local authorities' responsibilities for allocating their share of funding and mechanisms for mobilizing other lawful financial resources.

The committee emphasized the need to explain the projected financial requirements for 2031-2035 and the basis for the proposed allocation, ensuring that the draft resolution remains consistent with the National Assembly's authority.

It also recommended prioritizing support for border areas, where drug trafficking and cross-border criminal activities pose particular enforcement challenges.

The Committee on Legal and Judicial Affairs found that the proposed objectives and targets were broadly aligned with the Party's policies and addressed pressing requirements for drug and crime prevention under changing circumstances.

It also considered the proposed implementation period, running from 2026 through 2035 and divided into two phases, appropriate.

However, the committee called for further review to ensure consistency and accuracy across the program's objectives, targets, tasks, activities and financial resources.

It also recommended that targets for the two phases build upon one another, with progressively higher requirements, while adequately covering both drug prevention and broader crime prevention activities.

Tran Thuong