Training on INCB GRIDS Intelligence tools, Awareness raising and Safe handling of Dangerous substances for Drug Law Enforcement Officers in Viet Nam
15 - 16 November, Vung Tau, Viet Nam - The International Narcotics Control Board's (INCBs) Global Rapid Interdiction of Dangerous Substances (GRIDS) Programme organized a training on awareness raising, safe-handling and interdiction as well as information exchange through INCB global communication systems for drug law enforcement officers in Viet Nam.
The training was held in person for 19 officers from various functional divisions of Counter-Narcotic Police Department (12 officers), and Anti-smuggling and Investigation Department of the General Department of Customs (7 officers).
Photo: The opening ceremony of the event
Colonel Hoang Tam Hieu, Deputy Director General of Counter-Narcotic Police Department of Viet Nam Ministry of Public Security, highlighted the importance of intelligence tools developed under the GRIDS programme. These tools are essential and useful for timely information and intelligence exchange which could be vital in the fight against drug trafficking. The training also welcomed the participation of representatives from the United States International Narcotic and Law enforcement (INL) Viet Nam office, and the U.S. Drug Administrative Enforcement (DEA) Viet Nam country office. While the Program Manager of INL Viet Nam office appraised the country's significant economic development, he alerted the audience to a fact that such development could make the country vulnerable to various types of illegal activities, including drug related crimes, through enhancing market, resources and industrial capacity to be exploited for illicit purposes.
The participants were provided with an overall overview of the GRIDS programme and its strategy initiatives to address the quickly evolving drug trafficking market where criminals may take advantage of international logistics and service providers to traffic emerging new psychotropic substances (NPS) and non-medical synthetic opoids. Representatives of Counter-Narcotic Police Department shared an update on the current regional trends in drug trafficking, and recent major cases in which international cooperation played an important part in dismantling manufacturing rings. The participants also learnt about the control systems for legal activities relating to NPS in Viet Nam which includes relevant legislation and responsibilities of state management authorities in handling drug related issues.
A Diversion Investigator from DEA U.S. Embassy in Bangkok attended the training and presented on DEA's Diversion Control Program. The participants learnt more about the distribution system in the U.S., including its current list of chemical under control and on chemicals that are being frequently used for diversion.
GRIDS Regional Technical Officer conducted sessions on Project ION Incident Communication System (IONICS) and the GRIDS Intelligence HD tool to support domestic and international trafficking investigations. The participants had the chance to practise using IONICS and GRIDS Intelligence HD, which is a state-of-the-art targeting tool that transforms IONICS information into actionable intelligence for use in daily operations and risk profiling. During this segment, a practical exercise was conducted using real case information to give participants the opportunity to collaborate in real time.
A session on safe handling and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for opioids and other dangerous substances was also delivered during the training event to remind the participants of appropriate use to ensure safety by practising basic protective measures.
Photo: Hands-on exercise with IONICS and GRIDS tools
The Board's Global Rapid Interdiction of Dangerous Substances (GRIDS) Programme and Project ION and OPIOIDS Project support Governments' capacity to respond to changing trafficking, illicit manufacture, marketing and sales of NPS, non-medical synthetic opioids and fentanyl-related substances by providing real-time communication, facilitating information exchange and intelligence development that interdict distribution of dangerous substances.
These events were made possible through generous support from the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement, Department of State, U.S. Government.
Click here to learn more about the GRIDS Programme
Click here to learn more about the OPIOIDS Project
Click here to learn more about the Project ION