China, Vietnam launch anti-drug operation on border

LANG SON, Vietnam - Police forces from China and Vietnam launched a joint anti-drug operation along their shared border Friday.

The three-month operation, officially launched in northern Lang Son province, is the latest major campaign against drug crimes in the region, after "Safe River," an operation between police from China, Laos, Myanmar and Thailand in 2013.

The operation aims to crack down on cross-border drug crimes, enhance China-Vietnam cooperation on drug-related cases, establish an effective information exchange mechanism and greatly enhance the cross-border anti-drug law enforcement capacity.

Police officers from both sides will also work together to crack a number of major drug-related cases, and track down and arrest a group of escaped drug convicts.

The operation, aimed at strengthening the "Law Enforcement Cooperation along the Mekong River Mechanism", has great significance in promoting anti-drug cooperation between China and it neighboring countries.

The Mekong River runs through China, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam -- including the Golden Triangle region, one of the world's major drug-producing areas -- forming a major trade route in southeast Asia.

Safe Mekong ran from April to June in 2013, during which 1,784 cases were uncovered, 9.8 tons of drugs and 260 tons of precursor chemicals were seized and 2,534 drug crime suspects arrested.