Keep the village peaceful

In the middle of the vast green forest, the fight against drugs in Yen Bai is still taking place quietly without smoke or bullets but full of hardship and determination. That fight is not only to repel crime but above all to preserve peace for every home and every village.

Without sirens or dramatic chases like in movies, the war against drugs in Yen Bai takes place quietly, persistently, and with humanity. The police officers are not only a force for crime prevention and control, but also friends, brothers, and sisters in each community. For them, only when people trust and understand the harmful effects of drugs can they truly eradicate these harmful seeds.

In the past 5 years, the whole province has discovered and handled nearly 900 cases with nearly 1,400 drug-related criminals; more than 100kg of drugs were seized, tens of billions of dong in evidence and means of violation were confiscated. That number is a testament to the tireless efforts; the result of the synchronous participation of the entire political system; the determination not to let any land become a "hot spot" for drugs.

Yen Bai determined that winning the war on drugs cannot rely solely on repressive measures. Propaganda and raising awareness among the people, especially the youth, is identified as key.

From the remote villages of Mu Cang Chai and Tram Tau districts to the bustling streets of Yen Bai city... there are diverse and rich propaganda activities on drug prevention and control. Community activities, media conferences, and skills training have become familiar routines. Ms. Giang Thi Mai - a Justice officer of Ho Bon commune, Mu Cang Chai district said: "In the past, people here considered drugs as painkillers and tonics. However, through propaganda, they gradually understood the cruel truth of that "poison". From 2022 to now, there have been no cases of relapse in the commune."

The province also implemented the Project "Promoting propaganda on drug crime prevention and control among ethnic minorities and mountainous areas" from 2021 to 2025. Through the form of dramatization, mobile film screenings, leaflet distribution, organizing legal knowledge competitions... the propaganda work has "touched" the emotions and awareness of hundreds of thousands of people.

Over the past 5 years, the Provincial Police Department has coordinated to organize 8 major conferences with nearly 2,600 participants, directly propagating to more than 4,100 students; the Provincial Department of Justice has organized nearly 90 legal propaganda conferences, distributed 8,600 leaflets and 30,000 copies of "Legal Newsletter", including content on drug prevention and control. The synchronization in propaganda, control and support for drug addiction treatment has brought positive results.

Up to now, the whole province has 26 communes, wards and towns that are free of drug abuse - an encouraging number in the context of many areas bordering drug "hotspots" such as Son La and Lai Chau . From 2020 to now, nearly 2,000 people have been forced to undergo drug rehabilitation, over 100 people have voluntarily undergone drug rehabilitation and over 1,400 people have completed the rehabilitation process.

In particular, over 300 people were counseled and introduced to jobs, and nearly 600 people were organized to receive vocational training, helping them have the opportunity to reintegrate into the community. In the field of preventing supply, the functional forces destroyed over 1,200 m2 of opium plants, 39 cannabis plants and many other areas of addictive plants, contributing to preventing the illegal cultivation of plants containing narcotics from the root. Not only the government, but also mass organizations, religions, and prestigious people in the community also joined hands.

Anti-drug clubs and the "Drug-free Village" model have become "spiritual fortresses" protecting young people from temptation.

In Tu Le commune, Van Chan district, Mr. Lo Van Tam - a prestigious village elder shared: "I always remind the children that drugs are a dead end. It is better to be poor and live cleanly than to get involved and make the whole family suffer. When people remind each other and protect each other, criminals have no place to live." That connection between the people and the authorities is the most powerful weapon in the fight against drugs.

Tran Ngoc

Source: https://baolaocai.vn/giu-binh-yen-ban-lang-post404125.html