Vietnam launches crackdown
on sale, use of ecstasy

HCM City, 6 June: Criminal police will track down dangerous criminals and raid hotbeds of social evils nationwide from now until 19 August, said a senior police officer.

Maj-Gen Pham Xuan Quac, head of the Criminal Police Department, said police have coordinated with other responsible forces to conduct massive raids on places where illegal activities have been taking place, such as the production, sale and use of ecstasy.

Nguyen Van Minh, deputy head of the Anti-Social Evils Department under the Ministry of Labour, War Invalids and Social Affairs, told Saigon Giai Phong (Saigon Liberation) daily that along with police raids, firm measures have been taken such as regular inspections of suspected ecstasy dens, especially in the hotel system. Authorities at the grassroots level are also instructed to take responsibility for the social evils, especially ecstasy users.

Next week, task forces will be dispatched to key areas in Ho Chi Minh City, Vung Tau city, Dong Nai province in the south, Khanh Hoa, Nghe An and Thanh Hoa provinces in the central region, and Hanoi, Hai Phong city and Quang Ninh province in the north, to uncover and break up any drug dens.

Nguyen Thien Truong, deputy director of the National Committee for Population, Family and Children, said his agency will work with other responsible agencies such as the municipal youth union to raise younger generations' awareness of drugs as well as organize healthy activities such as summer camps to distract young people from social evils.

The government very recently decided to stop granting licences for new bars, karaoke restaurants and dancing halls, which are often used as a cover for social evils dens.

Narcotics squads and criminal police have recently uncovered a number of drug-trafficking and dealing rings, arrested ringleaders, and closed down numerous brothels and drug dens which have been disguised as bars, hotels or karaoke restaurants. Deputy Prime Minister Pham Gia Khiem on 3 June sent a letter praising their efforts.

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