Drug Intelligence Brief

THE DRUG SITUATION IN VIETNAM
November 2001

STATUS IN INTERNATIONAL DRUG TRAFFICKING

Since 1995, Vietnam has been designated as a major drug transit and production nation by the U.S. Department of State. Vietnam produces approximately 15 tons of opium annually with most of the opium poppy crop cultivated by ethnic minorities and used in the northwestern mountainous regions of the country. The Vietnamese Government, however, is continuing its efforts to reduce opium cultivation through education, eradication, and a crop substitution program.

CULTIVATION AND PROCESSING

Opium

As is the practice in Burma, China, Laos, and Thailand, the opium poppy is cultivated and processed into heroin by ethnic minority groups, particularly the Hmong highlanders in the northern provinces of Lai Chau, Son La, Nghe Anh, and other northwestern and central provinces that border Laos and China.

The amount of opium produced in Vietnam is currently under debate. The Vietnam Standing Office of Drug Control estimates that there are approximately 500 hectares of opium poppy under cultivation in Vietnam. The U.N. Drug Control Program (UNDCP) believes the figure to be much higher, but not exceeding 1,000 hectares. Estimates by the U.S. Government quoted in the Hanoi Country Office Report place the figure at approximately 2,500 hectares. However, eradication and crop substitution efforts by the Vietnamese Government Counter-Narcotics Department and the Standing Office of Drug Control have reduced the number of hectares being used for opium poppy cultivation from 12,900 in 1993 to 2,500 in 2000 (using the highest figure available). Although the number of hectares being cultivated is under disagreement, the harvest of between 10 to 15 metric tons of opium is in universal agreement.

Although this potential opium production could yield approximately 1 metric ton of processed heroin, the actual amount eventually produced is less than half of a metric ton of heroin. Most of the opium grown by local villagers is used as opium.

Vietnam has established a joint project with UNDCP to eradicate poppy cultivation in Nghe Anh Province in northern Vietnam. This is in addition to the successful crop substitution program that had been previously implemented in Nghe Anh Province. In 2001, another phase of this project is being initiated with funding from Germany, Japan, and the United States.

Marijuana

Cannabis is grown both along the Mekong River delta, and in the highland areas along the Laos and China border areas. Most of the cannabis cultivation in these areas goes for hemp, which is still used in the production of rope and in other legitimate activities. There appears to be a low level of abuse by the local population. Much of the marijuana seized by the police in Vietnam appears to be of Cambodian origin.

TRAFFICKING

Heroin

Vietnam is becoming an increasingly important transit country for heroin from Burma, Laos, and Thailand. Vietnamese counterdrug officials report that refined heroin from laboratories in Burma and Laos is being smuggled into Vietnam from Thailand and Laos for onward shipment to international drug markets. The heroin enters Vietnam by overland routes from Laos, by boats on the Mekong River from Laos, or by boats from the Gulf of Thailand and the South China Sea. It is transported along major road networks to major port cities or to Vietnamese territorial waters where it is loaded for transport to Hong Kong, Taiwan, the Philippines, Singapore, and elsewhere. A second major route for heroin transiting Vietnam is from China. While Vietnamese officials believe that the overland route through Laos into Vietnam remains the most popular route, they note the increasing importance of the China route.

Marijuana

Vietnam is a transit country for marijuana from Cambodia that is shipped to international drug markets. Marijuana produced in Cambodia is transported to Ho Chi Minh City where it is placed on trucks and shipped to the northern provinces of Vietnam. The marijuana is then smuggled into China.

Methamphetamine

Vietnam is becoming a major consumer country for methamphetamine from Burma. Vietnamese counterdrug officials report that methamphetamine from laboratories in Burma is smuggled over the same routes that are used for smuggling Southeast Asian heroin.

Precursor Chemicals

Vietnam poses a significant drug threat by illicitly producing and trafficking the precursor chemical, safrole, which is one of the main components necessary for 3,4 methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) production. According to Vietnamese authorities, Vietnam exported 331 tons of safrole between 1998 and 2000. The Vietnamese Government has recently banned the export of safrole; however, there are reports of illegal harvesting of trees containing safrole.

DRUG-RELATED MONEY LAUNDERING

Vietnam is not a major economic, financial, or money laundering center. The Vietnamese Government controls the banking system, which few Vietnamese use or trust. The World Bank is working with the Vietnamese Government on banking legislation that will include money laundering provisions. New counterdrug and money laundering laws address the laundering of drug proceeds, but the police in Vietnam have little or no experience in conducting money laundering investigations. Proceeds from drug sales in Vietnam are usually converted into cash (preferably U.S. dollars) or gold.

DRUG ABUSE and TREATMENT

Drugs of Choice

Opium is the drug of choice in Vietnam. Opium is either smoked or administered by intravenous injection. Other drugs that are abused in Vietnam include heroin, marijuana, MDMA, and methamphetamine.

Addict Population

The number of drug addicts in Vietnam varies according to the organization making the report. According to the Vietnamese Ministry of Public Security, there are approximately 104,000 drug addicts. The Vietnamese Ministry of Public Health puts the number of drug addicts at close to 200,000. These numbers vary due to different definitions of an addict and different reporting requirements within the various organizations.

The Vietnamese Government estimates that drug addicts spend almost US$14 million for drugs annually. The increasing availability of drugs passing through Vietnam and the corresponding increase in addiction has bolstered prevention campaigns in schools and workplaces, with the media warning of the dangers of drug abuse.

Treatment and Demand Reduction Programs

Vietnam has 61 drug treatment centers nationwide that offer patients a choice of either institution-based or community-based treatments. The treatment programs use traditional medicine and counseling therapies to treat drug addicts. However, the effectiveness of these programs is low because of a recidivism rate of from 80 to 90 percent.

DRUG LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES and LEGISLATION

Vietnam has several agencies charged with drug law enforcement. These agencies are:

• The Standing Office of Drug Control: sets drug policy for the Vietnam General Department of Police.
  
  
• Counter-Narcotics Department: drug enforcement arm of the Vietnam General Department of Police.
  
  
• Vietnam Customs Department, Narcotics Suppression Unit: drug investigations at airports, seaports, and border crossing points.
  
  
• Border Defense Force: military units specially designated to interdict drug smuggling into Vietnam.

The Vietnamese legislature is currently drafting a long-term counterdrug plan for the years 2001 through 2010. The plan consists of 14 programs designed to counter the current drug trends in Vietnam. This plan covers drug law enforcement, prevention, education, treatment, and rehabilitation.

In December 2000, the Vietnamese National Assembly passed the country’s first comprehensive counterdrug law. For the first time, this law empowers Vietnamese police to use commonly accepted law enforcement techniques, such as controlled deliveries, undercover investigations, financial record subpoenas, and confidential informants.

TREATIES and CONVENTIONS

Vietnam is a party to the 1988 U.N. Drug Convention, the 1961 U.N. Single Convention as amended by the 1972 Protocol, and the 1971 U.N. Convention on Psychotropic Substances. Vietnam signed the U.N. Convention Against Transnational Organized Crime in December 2000. Vietnam has signed several counterdrug agreements and regional Memoranda of Understanding with various Asian countries, such as Burma, Cambodia, Laos, Russia, and Thailand. Vietnam has no current treaties or agreements with the United States on matters relating to mutual legal assistance or extradition. Although a bilateral counternarcotics agreement has been discussed over the past 2 years, there has been no indication of approval or ratification. The agreement currently sits in a Vietnamese legislative committee awaiting action.

STATISTICAL TABLES

Arrests

In 2000, Vietnamese courts tried 7,093 cases involving 10,242 drug offenders. Of the defendants convicted, 86 received the death penalty, 87 received life sentences, and over 4,800 individuals received prison terms ranging from 7 to 20 years.

Prices

In 2000, street-level drug prices were as follows:

Seizures

Vietnamese officials seized the following quantities of drugs:

KEY JUDGEMENTS

First, Vietnam will continue to be used as a transit area for the flow of Southeast Asian heroin to the Philippines, China, Japan, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and the United States.

Secondly, although Vietnam recently banned the export of safrole, a precursor for the manufacture of MDMA, illicit production and trafficking of this chemical will continue.

Finally, Vietnam is updating penalties for drug-related offenses and revising previously passed legislation. Vietnam is continuing to strengthen and improve the effectiveness of its drug law enforcement operations, international cooperation, and drug abuse prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation efforts.

DEA-02001