Vietnam and Laos conducted a joint exercise on combating cross-border drug crimes within the framework of the second Vietnam-Laos border defense friendship exchange in the northwestern Vietnamese province of Son La on Tuesday.

The event was organized by the Border Guard Command of Son La Province and the Military Command of Laos’ Houaphanh Province.

General Phan Van Giang, Deputy Secretary of the Central Military Commission and Minister of National Defense, and Lao Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defense Chansamone Chanyalath co-directed the exercise.

The exercise consisted of three lessons: preparing to apprehend criminals, practicing the apprehension, and concluding the operation. 

Each included specific training objectives, such as establishing a joint command post, coordinating operations, agreeing on plans, deploying ambush formations, and preparing to apprehend suspects. 

The training involved cross-border apprehension practices, checking and controlling drug offenders at the Long Sap Border Guard Station, and pursuing, intercepting, and capturing a group of suspects while rescuing hostages.

The Vietnam-Laos border has been identified as one of the key areas for the transit, trade, and transport of drugs. 

Since 2020, the authorities of the two countries have collaborated to bust nearly 30 significant drug cases, seizing several metric tons of various types of drugs. 

Recently, the Vietnam Border Guard, along with the Laos Border Guard and the General Department of Police of the Laos Ministry of Public Security, have effectively collaborated to combat drug-related crimes along the shared border.

According to Colonel Ban Van Chanh, Deputy Commander of the Border Guard Command of Son La Province, recent cooperative efforts, particularly in combating drug-related crimes, between the border guard forces of Son La and Houaphanh Provinces have been conducted regularly and effectively.

Tuesday's exercise highlighted key aspects of cooperation between the law enforcement agencies of both countries, offering an opportunity for the forces to share experience and deepen their mutual understanding.

Chanh further noted that this collaboration would improve future coordination in border management, protection, and combating crime.

Colonel Vongthong Khamthavongsa, Deputy Commander of the Military Command of Houaphanh Province, stated that the exercise has reinforced the solidarity between the border protection forces of the two nations.

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