With regard to drug related crimes, many cases were detected relating to foreigners who trafficked in narcotic drugs (mainly heroin and ecstasy) from oversea into Vietnam via land or marine border gates in bordering provinces. For trafficking in women and children, in recent years, in many eases Vietnamese women were trafficked from Vietnam to Asian countries and then to European countries for sexual exploiting

In recent years, Vietnamese Law Enforcements Agencies including the Police of Vietnam have strengthened the international cooperation to promote effectiveness of the fight against transnational crimes. At present, the international cooperation of Vietnamese Police has mainly been conducted through Interpol channel (with 186 member countries) and ASEAN, ASEANAPOL channel (with 10 member countries and dialogue countries such as China, Republic of Korea, Japan) and through Liaison Police Officer System in Vietnam or in South-East Asian region. However, the fact shows that the cooperation through Interpol channel has proved to be much more effective because this is a large cooperative network (with 186 member countries) and it is more flexible, it is not restricted by diplomatic and protocol procedures. Moreover, in recent years, in order to modernize NCB Interpol of member countries, ICPO Interpol has invested million EURO to set up the Interpol Global Communication System (I-24/7). Through this system, the Police forces in member countries can exchange information/intelligence about transnational crimes online. Besides, through this system, Police forces in member countries can access into a great criminal database system such as database on wanted fugitives, stolen cars, stolen passports. . .

In recent years, the Police of Vietnam have successfully cooperated with its international counterparts to investigate and detect many complicated cases. Many rings of drug smuggling and trafficking in women and children were detected. Many wanted fugitives were arrested for extradition. By the said result in combating transnational crimes, the Police of Vietnam have played an important role in the fight against transitional crimes in the world as well as in the region

Every year, Interpol Vietnam cooperates with central and local Law Enforcement Agencies to pursue hundreds of wanted fugitives who fled from foreign countries into Vietnam and vice versa. In the past years, through many cooperative channels, Interpol Vietnam have successfully cooperated with international Law Enforcement Agencies to arrested over 50 wanted fugitives who fled from overseas into Vietnam and over 40 fugitives who fled from Vietnam to overseas for extradition

In the fight against narcotic drug crimes, in recent years, through Interpol/Aseanapol channel, the Police of Vietnam have cooperated with its international counterpart to verify thousands of individuals, companies and telephone subscribers related to narcotic drug crimes such as smuggling, illegally transporting drug cross the border, illegally possessing and using drug, marijuana plantation…Through Interpol channel, the Police of Vietnam directly cooperated with its counterparts to investigate and detect tens of criminal rings trafficking in drug from Vietnam to foreign countries and many other rings trafficking in drug from foreign countries into Vietnam. Modus operandi of drug traffickers is very sophisticated such as they concealed drug in footwear, food cans, in envelopes, swallowed drug…

Concerning economic crimes, in recent years, through Interpol channel, the Police of Vietnam have received and processed thousands of pieces of information/intelligence related to transnational fraudulent activities, cyber crimes, swindling in investment…By cooperating with international Law Enforcement Agencies, the Police of Vietnam detected many serious economic cases, especially many eases causing serious damage for state's properties were detected. Hundreds of individuals and entities (such as companies, banks, credit funds..) related to money laundering, smuggling, swindling to appropriate Value Added Tax…were verified. Tens of tobacco, cars and petrol smuggling rings were investigated. Much money was confiscated for state budget. Profit of domestic producers is protected

Concerning transnational crimes, in recent years, with the complicated situation of transnational crimes related to Vietnam especially in Vietnamese communities in foreign countries, there have been many difficulties for the Police of Vietnam to cooperate with foreign police forces to investigate and verify suspects in overseas Vietnamese criminal gangs. However, through many cooperative channels especially Interpol channel, the Police of Vietnam have obtained positive result in combating transnational crimes. According to statistic by Interpol Vietnam, in recent years, through Interpol channel, the Police of Vietnam have successfully cooperated with foreign Law Enforcement Agencies to verify and identify criminal records or criminal activities of thousands of suspects, investigate and detect many cases related transnational organized crimes, trafficking in women and children, dangerous criminal activities

With the said successful result in the fight against transnational crimes, the Police of Vietnam have been highly appreciated by Vietnamese Government as well as by its international counterparts

In the future, in order to promote the effectiveness of international cooperation in the fight against transnational crimes related to Vietnam, domestic and international Law Enforcement Agencies are requested to carry out the following recommendations:

Firstly, Vietnamese competent authorities should cooperate with its international counterparts to draft and request Vietnamese Government and its counterparts to sign more Bilateral Legal Assistance Treaties and Extradition Treaties especially with countries which are now considered the hot points of transnational crimes related to Vietnam

Secondly, international Law Enforcement Agencies are requested to enhance the cooperation based on the principle of reciprocity, in conformity with national and international laws. Inflexibility and restriction in international cooperation in the fight against transnational crimes should be avoided

Thirdly, It is necessary to build up a database of transnational crimes in Interpol Office of member countries to take advantages of existing criminal database and I-24/7 system of ICPO Interpol. Police forces of our countries should strengthen criminal information/intelligence exchanging and assist each other in information/intelligence collecting and recording

Fourthly, a general project is required to build up capacity of forces, agencies who directly involve in prevention and suppression transnational crimes. It is necessary to strengthen training programmes for officers who work in international cooperation to fight against transnational crimes in Vietnamese Police Force. It is called for assistance and sponsor from foreign counterparts in training programs, international conferences, workshops or study visits…

Pol. Col. DANG XUAN KHANG