News

Launching Operation Mekong Dragon IV

Summary

In Operation Mekong Dragon III, member countries and territories participating in the operation handled 756 drug-related crimes.

Updated on : 13-04-2022

The General Department of Vietnam Customs (GDVC) has requested local customs departments to execute Operation Mekong Dragon IV (from April 15 to September 15, 2022).

Director of Anti-Smuggling and Investigation Department Nguyen Hung Anh attended an online conference to review performance in 2020. Photo: T.B

To express the active role of Vietnam Customs and successfully implement Operation Mekong Dragon IV, the GDVC has asked the departments to raise awareness and assign tasks to their subordinate units for effective execution.

Collect information related to methods and tricks of smuggling and illegal transportation of drugs and wild fauna and flora to assess risks for customs supervision and control.

Strengthen inspection and supervision of goods, dossiers and documents for suspected shipments. If detecting suspected violations, the units need to take measures to seize and handle the violations. If there needs to be verification of information from abroad, the units need to send a document to the GDVC for support.

Local customs departments need to coordinate with competent forces such as Border Guard and Police to effectively combat the illegal transportation of drugs and wild fauna and flora.

Regarding the achievements of Operation Mekong Dragon III, the representative of the Anti-Smuggling and Investigation Department said 23 law enforcement agencies from 20 member countries and territories in the Asia-Pacific joined the operation.

In Operation III, 868 cases were handled, including 756 arrests related to illegal drugs and precursors; and 112 seizures of wildlife and wood in violation of CITES.

On November 30, Vietnam Customs was awarded the Asia Environmental Enforcement Award for joint collaboration with China Customs and Thai Customs in the Asia-specific Operation Mekong Dragon III.

Operation Mekong Dragon co-initiated by Vietnam Customs and China Customs was launched in September 2018 and supported by the UN Office of Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Regional Intelligence Liaison Office for Asia and the Pacific (RILO AP) of the World Customs Organization (WCO), with the participation of customs administrations of member countries.