Decision No. 133/2002/QĐ-TTg Issuing the Regulation on Coordination among Police Forces, Border Guard Forces, Coast Guard, and Customs in Combating Drug Crimes at Border Areas, Ports, and at Sea

Pursuant to …;

Regulation on Coordination among Police Forces, Border Guard, Coast Guard, and Customs in Combating Drug-related Crimes at Border Areas, Ports of Entry, and at Sea

sea and Customs in the struggle to prevent and combat drug-related crimes in

border areas, ports of entry, and at sea

PRIME MINISTER

Pursuant to the Law on Organization of the Government dated December 25, 2001;

Pursuant to the Law on Prevention and Control of Narcotics dated December 22, 2000;

Pursuant to Decision No. 150/2000/QĐ-TTg dated December 28, 2000 of the Government Prime Minister approving the Action Program for Drug Prevention and Control during the period 2001-2005;

Considering the proposal of the Minister of Public Security, the Minister of National Defense, and the General Director of the General Department of Customs under the Ministry of Finance.

DECISION:

Article 1. This Decision promulgates the Regulation on Coordination among Police Forces, Border Guard, Coast Guard, and Customs in Combating Drug-related Crimes at Border Areas, Ports of Entry, and at Sea.

12/2025/TT-BNNMT dated June 19, 2025 issued by the Minister of Agriculture and EnvironmentTHIS DECISION SHALL TAKE EFFECT 15 DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF SIGNATURE.

Article 3. The Minister of Public Security, the Minister of National Defense, the Minister of Finance, the Heads of Ministries equivalent to Ministries, the Heads of Agencies under the Government, and the Chairpersons of People's Committees of provinces and centrally governed cities shall be responsible for implementing this Decision./.

REGULATIONS

Coordination among Police Forces, Border Guard, Coast Guard, and Customs in Combating Drug-related Crimes at Border Areas, Ports of Entry, and at Sea

(Promulgated pursuant to Decision No. 133/2002/QĐ-TTg dated October 9, 2002 of the Government Prime Minister)

Chapter 1 GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1. Responsibilities of Police Forces, Border Guard, Coast Guard, and Customs in Combating Drug-related Crimes at Border Areas, Ports of Entry, and at Sea:

1. The police force for drug crime prevention and suppression under the Ministry of Public Security shall proactively coordinate with functional forces of the Border Guard, Coast Guard, and Customs to implement preventive activities, blockage, and combat against drug-related crimes at border areas, ports of entry, and at sea.

2. The Border Guard force under the Ministry of National Defense shall take the lead and coordinate with the police force, Customs, and local authorities in border regions to implement preventive activities, blockage, and combat against drug-related crimes at border areas.

3. The Coast Guard force under the Ministry of National Defense shall take the lead and coordinate with the police force, Border Guard, and Customs to detect, arrest, and handle drug-related crimes at sea including inland waters, territorial seas, contiguous zones, exclusive economic zones, and continental shelves of Vietnam.

4. The Customs force under the Ministry of Finance shall take the lead and coordinate with the police force, Border Guard, and Coast Guard to inspect, control, detect, and handle illegal acts of buying, selling, and transporting drugs, precursor chemicals, narcotic substances, and psychotropic substances at customs-controlled areas including national and international ports of entry, cargo clearance points, bonded warehouses...

Article 2. Principles of Coordination between Police Forces, Border Guard, Coast Guard, and Customs:

1. Coordination activities among Police Forces, Border Guard, Coast Guard, and Customs shall be based on the functions, tasks, and powers of each force as prescribed by law, ensuring unity, cooperation, and mutual support to enhance strength and effectiveness in combating drug-related crimes at border areas, ports of entry, and at sea.

2. Ensuring unified state management of drug prevention and control according to specialized sectors, avoiding loopholes, overlapping, and hindering legitimate flow and activities through borders, ports of entry, and at sea.

3. Information exchange on criminal activities, investigation, and implementation of operational measures must comply with the confidentiality regime as prescribed.

4. The specialized agency for drug crime prevention and suppression under the Ministry of Public Security shall be the core and center for coordinating activities among forces in combating drug-related crimes nationwide, including border areas, ports of entry, and at sea.

Article 2. This Decision shall take effect fifteen days from the date of signature.

Chapter 2 CONTENTS OF COOPERATION IN THE STRUGGLE TO PREVENT AND COMBAT DRUG CRIMES IN BORDER AREAS, PORTS, AND ON THE SEA

Article 3. REGIME FOR EXCHANGE OF INFORMATION, DOCUMENTS AND HANDLING OF TIPS AND REPORTS ON DRUG CRIMES BETWEEN POLICE FORCES, BORDER GUARD FORCES, COAST GUARD, AND CUSTOMS:

1. The Ministry of Public Security, the Ministry of National Defense, and the Ministry of Finance within their respective jurisdictions shall uniformly direct specialized forces at all levels responsible for preventing and combating drug crimes to closely cooperate in grasping situations and exchanging information related to drug crimes to coordinate in preventing and combating drug crimes in assigned areas and fields. Implement regular monthly, quarterly, and annual meetings. In emergency situations, forces shall proactively inform each other to coordinate in resolving issues.

2. Agencies responsible for preventing and combating drug crimes under the Ministry of Public Security, Border Guard Forces, Coast Guard, and Customs at all levels when organizing training, seminars, and conferences on the struggle against drug crimes shall have the responsibility to notify representatives of the aforementioned agencies at the same level to participate.

3. The regime, content, and form of exchange of information and documents related to the prevention and combat of drug crimes between police forces, Border Guard Forces, Coast Guard, and Customs at all levels are stipulated as follows:

a) Information and documents about the situation and activities of drug criminals collected by Border Guard Forces, Coast Guard, and Customs that relate to domestic matters, if cooperation with police forces is required, the unit receiving such information and documents must promptly report to its immediate superior and simultaneously inform the police force and relevant forces at the same level to coordinate in combating. When the police force has information and documents about the activities of drug criminals related to border areas, ports, and the sea, it has the responsibility to inform the direct units of the Border Guard Forces, Coast Guard, and Customs to coordinate in resolving issues.

b) The Ministry of Public Security is responsible for informing the Ministry of National Defense and the Ministry of Finance about the situation of the struggle to prevent and combat drug crimes, new methods and tactics of drug criminals both domestically and internationally, the situation of production, purchase, transportation, use, storage, and illegal organization of drug use...

c) Quarterly, provincial-level police forces, Border Guard Forces, Coast Guard, and Customs (in provinces with borders) organize meetings to unify the assessment of the situation and work to combat drug criminals. Monthly, border district police, border guard stations, customs offices at ports, and coast guard units stationed in the area organize meetings to exchange information on the situation and unify preventive measures and efforts to combat drug criminals. These meetings are chaired by the police force.

d) Specialized agencies responsible for preventing and combating drug crimes under the Ministry of Public Security are responsible for compiling the situation of drug criminal activities in border areas, ports, on the sea, and domestically to report to the leadership of the Ministry of Public Security for coordination with the Ministry of National Defense and the Ministry of Finance to direct the implementation of policies, plans, and measures to address issues in each phase.

Article 4. Coordination regime for implementing operational measures:

1. The Public Security force shall coordinate with the Border Guard, Coast Guard, and Customs at all levels to disseminate information so that residents in border areas, checkpoints, and on the sea understand the laws on preventing and combating drug-related crimes, the modus operandi of drug criminals, and the consequences and harm caused by drugs to social life; based on this, they shall launch mass movements to actively participate in preventing, detecting, and reporting drug-related crimes.

2. Border guard posts, sub-districts, and specialized departments under the Provincial Border Guard Command, Coast Guard units, customs offices at checkpoints and borders, and provincial-level customs specialized units shall coordinate with the specialized forces for preventing and combating drug-related crimes under the Ministry of Public Security at the same level to comprehensively implement basic operational tasks in their respective jurisdictions. In key and complex grassroots areas, if necessary, the specialized forces for preventing and combating drug-related crimes under the Ministry of Public Security shall take the lead, coordinating with the Border Guard, Coast Guard, and Customs forces to focus on resolving issues thoroughly.

3. When the specialized forces for preventing and combating drug-related crimes under the Ministry of Public Security require conducting surveillance operations in border areas, outer border areas, checkpoints, or on the sea, the Border Guard, Coast Guard, and Customs forces shall provide conditions for supplying information and supporting implementation.

4. When the Border Guard, Coast Guard, and Customs forces implement operational measures to prevent and combat drugs, the specialized public security forces for preventing and combating drug-related crimes shall have the responsibility to exchange information and materials about the situation and activities of drug-related crimes in the domestic area related to border areas, checkpoints, and on the sea, while providing support for necessary operational measures within the authority prescribed by law.

Article 5. Coordination regime for investigating and handling specific cases:

1. The Border Guard, Coast Guard, and Customs at all levels shall investigate and handle criminal acts related to drugs as stipulated in Chapter XVIII of the Criminal Code of 1999 within their jurisdiction according to the authority prescribed in the Ordinance on Investigative Organization, the Ordinance on Border Guard, the Ordinance on Coast Guard, and the Law on Customs. During the investigation process, if required, the Border Guard, Coast Guard, and Customs may send temporarily detained persons to temporary detention centers or detention camps of the public security force.

2. The public security forces at all levels, upon receiving requests from the Border Guard, Coast Guard, and Customs at the same level to pursue and arrest suspects and means of transportation involved in illegal activities from the border, checkpoints, or on the sea running into the domestic area, shall deploy forces to cooperate in searching, arresting, and then handing over to the Border Guard, Coast Guard, and Customs or accepting files for continued investigation and handling. For large drug cases discovered and established by the Border Guard, Coast Guard, and Customs involving suspects related to the domestic area requiring clarification, they shall be transferred to the Drug Crime Prevention and Control Police and the local investigative police for continued investigation according to the law (except for drug cases within the jurisdiction of military investigative agencies). For cases and investigations established and fought by the public security forces involving suspects related to the jurisdiction of the Border Guard, Coast Guard, and Customs, the Border Guard, Coast Guard, and Customs shall coordinate and create favorable conditions as requested.

3. For complex drug cases involving multiple regions and foreign countries, the public security force shall take the lead in establishing a special case team including the Public Security, Border Guard, and Coast Guard. If the cases are discovered by the Border Guard, Coast Guard, and Customs, they shall be investigated according to current laws. Upon request, the public security force shall have the responsibility to support and coordinate.

4. When the public security force requires operational, investigative, and surveillance activities regarding drug-related crimes in border areas, checkpoints, and on the sea, the Border Guard, Coast Guard, and Customs shall have the responsibility to coordinate and provide conditions to assist the public security force in completing its mission. The public security force shall support the Border Guard, Coast Guard, and Customs when these forces request coordination in the domestic area.

5. After completing the investigation and handling, the parties shall report the results of cooperation and draw lessons learned.

Article 3. The Minister of Public Security, the Minister of National Defense, the Minister of Finance, the Heads of Ministries-equivalent agencies, the Heads of Government-affiliated agencies, and the Chairpersons of provincial people's committees directly under the central government shall be responsible for implementing this Decision.

REGULATIONS on Coordination among Police Forces, Border Guard Forces, Coast Guard, and Customs in Combating Drug Crimes at Border Areas, Checkpoints, and at Sea (Annexed to Decision No. 133/2002/QĐ-TTg dated October 9, 2002)

Chapter 3 IMPLEMENTATION ORGANIZATION

Article 6. Strengthening and Improving the Anti-Drug Crime Force:

1. The Ministry of Public Security, the Ministry of National Defense, and the Ministry of Finance shall proactively strengthen and improve their specialized anti-drug crime forces in accordance with the functions and tasks of each force and the requirements of each route and area. Personnel working in anti-drug crime must be carefully selected; they must have good qualities, firm political stance, determination, professional skills, legal knowledge, and capabilities; they shall be prioritized for transportation means, communication equipment, and necessary weapons and support tools; they shall be trained in anti-drug crime from when they are studying at professional schools of each sector.

2. In cases where necessary, the Police, Border Guard, Coast Guard, and Customs may establish inter-sectoral special task units against drug crimes on key routes and areas. These units shall be organized by the proposing force, and other forces shall be responsible for assigning personnel to participate.

Article 7. Implementation organization.

1. The Ministers of Public Security, National Defense, and Finance shall be responsible for directing and guiding the implementation of these Regulations. If supplementation or amendment is needed during the implementation process, the Ministry of Public Security shall compile and submit it.

2. The specialized agencies under the Ministry of Public Security responsible for combating drug-related crimes shall monitor and inspect the implementation of these Regulations, and report the results periodically to the Chairman of the National Committee for HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control and Drug Abuse and Prostitution Prevention.