In recent years, the prevention of drug use and prostitution has been of great concern of all levels and functional branches of Thuong Tin District. The district’s authorities have strictly and effectively implemented various solutions to ensure the district’s security and order.
Strengthening propaganda on prevention of drug use, prostitution, and HIV/AIDS
Investigations show that crime and drug use in Thuong Tin District has fundamentally been put under control as no large drug trafficking sites were found. However, the situation is still complicated as drug criminals mainly make small-scaled purchases here and there.
The district currently has a total of 355 drug addicts and 408 service establishments possible of being used for prostitution services, 24 motels, 38 karaoke facilities, 14 massage facilities, 162 hostels, 36 pawnshops, and 134 Internet posts.
All levels, sectors, Vietnam Fatherland Front unit, socio-political organizations, and social organizations of Thuong Tin District have strengthened the dissemination of information on prevention of drug use, prostitution, and HIV/AIDS to their officers and members, and organized extensive propaganda on such subjects to mass publics, especially to students and the youth.
The district’s public security unit in collaboration with the Office of Culture and Information and the Radio and Television Station had produced 11 articles to introduce the Law on Drug Prevention and provide information on harmful effects of drugs and HIV/AIDS. Such articles have been read 148 times on loudspeaker systems at district, commune, and town levels.
The Office of Education and Training in collaboration with the district’s public security unit has held 34 talking sessions to directly disseminate information on harmful effects of drugs and to introduce the Law on Drug Prevention to nearly 6,000 staff members, teachers, and students of several schools in the district.
The district’s Veterans Association in cooperation with the public security unit has organized 53 talking sessions on crime prevention with 6,858 participants, 44 talking sessions on drug prevention with 5,008 participants, and 1 talk show on exchange of experience in preventing crime and addressing social issues.
The district’s Women’s Union in collaboration with functional units has mobilized 16,302 families to sign commitment to educate children against drug addiction, distributed 862 leaflets containing information on prevention of drug use and social issues, assisted 12 families with drug addicts to borrow VND 20,000,000 each to help find jobs for drug addicts after rehabilitation, and assisted and managed 22 drug addicts during rehabilitation, 18 post-rehab people, and 8 law offenders. The Women’s Union has also maintained the activities of 23 crime and social issue prevention clubs in its local branches. The district also has 29 volunteer social groups with a total of 206 volunteers who have disseminated information to 220 people, directly advised 85 people, and organized the signing of commitment against drug use for 45 people.
In preventing, combating, and removing drug dens, Thuong Tin Public Security has discovered and investigated 30 cases with 39 subjects and 1 conditional business establishment owner; prosecuted 27 cases with 28 defendants; imposed administrative sanctions on 3 cases and 11 subjects; seized 4,415 grams of heroin, 71,408 grams of synthetic drugs, and 2,221 grams of marijuana; and organized 23 mobile trials and 14 hearing cases.
In preventing prostitution, the district has compiled records of 408 conditional business establishments and drawn up a list of 109 employees working at motels, karaoke facilities, and massage facilities at high risk of violation. Inspections have helped discover and eliminate 3 establishments with 13 sex workers.
In order to promote the obtained achievements, Thuong Tin District will continue to promote the dissemination of regulations and information on harmful effects, as well as the situation and results of the prevention of drug use, prostitution, and HIV/AIDS transmission.
The district will propagandize new guidelines and policies directly to each addict, especially those on the management list or have not gone to rehabilitation in order to fulfill the targets on voluntary and compulsory drug rehabilitation.
The district will continue to direct public security units at all levels to investigate on establishments and subjects showing signs of drug use or prostitution and take initiative measures to eliminate identified drug dens.
The district will also strengthen investigating on conditional business establishments showing signs of drug use and prostitution; promote interventions to reduce harmful effects of HIV/AIDS; conduct the oversight of HIV/AIDS transmission; carry on the counseling, voluntary testing, care, support, and treatment for HIV infected patients; and so on.
Thuong Tin Women’s Union strengthening legal knowledge for members
Photo by Thao Tran
Nguyen Cong