According to the 2011 International Narcotics Control Strategy Report (INCSR), Amphetamine Type Stimulants (ATS), such as amphetamine, ecstasy, and methamphetamine amongst other drugs, are still an area of concern for the Vietnamese government. During the first half of 2010 alone, the Vietnam Waterway Police reported executing 18 drug raids, arresting 22 drug abusers or dealers, and seizing 530.5 grams of heroin, while the Border Guard Army reported investigating 59 drug cases, conducting 368 drug raids, and arresting 517 individuals. The total amount of narcotics seized from January to June of 2010 amounts to roughly “48 kilograms of heroin, 38,718 MDMA tablets, 1.7 kilograms of opium, 15.6 kilograms of marijuana, and 694 tablets of psychotropic medicines.”
Unfortunately, even with improving drug enforcement, those involved in illicit narcotics production and trafficking are still finding more creative ways to continue their trade. With opium cultivation, for example, growers in the Central Highlands and Northern Delta are planting their goods amongst vegetable patches, so that authorities cannot discover any illicit activities until after the opium has already been harvested. Methamphetamine dealers, more cleverly, have been using Pseudoephedrine hydrochloride to produce the illegal substance.
Pseudoephedrine hydrochloride salts are commonly used to decongest the sinus or as a wakefulness-promoting agent. They are often found as one of the ingredients in anti-itch remedies, Tylenol, Aspirin, Ibuprofen, and similar over-the-counter (OTC) medications. Alas, methamphetamine producers are using this fact to their advantage: by importing high volumes of popular cold, flu, and allergy medications, and converting them into “crystal,” “crank,” “snap, crackle, pop,” or “da” (“ice”) as they are known in Vietnam. In an August 2009 case, for instance, the “Lao law enforcement authorities seized some tons of cold remedies being surreptitiously sent to Burma from Vietnam via Laos, apparently to provide pseudoephedrine for methamphetamine production.”
Not surprisingly, the health ministry in Vietnam suspects that pharmaceutical companies may also be involved in the production, sale, and distribution of methamphetamine and, thus, have recently banned the import of pseudoephedrine hydrochloride. Pharmaceutical companies are currently under investigation. How will this affect the supply of OTC for people who need them is yet to be seen. For now, productions of OTC medications that use pseudoephedrine hydrochloride as an active ingredient have been halted. Whether or not import of the substance will resume is questionable. However, it is very unfortunate that legitimately ill individuals will have to turn to alternatives, which may not be as effective, to help alleviate their conditions due to the illegitimate drug trade.
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