“Outstanding Young Faces of the Army” 2023: A model of courage and uncompromisingness against drug crimes

The subject and evidence were seized in Project DB1221p. Photo: Cuong Vu

Due to busy work, after many appointments, we had the opportunity to meet him. Enthusiastic, dynamic, and bringing positive energy is the first impression that Captain Vu Van Cuong brings to everyone. Having gone through many assigned positions, in any position, he always upholds the spirit of responsibility, "dare to think, dare to do, dare to take responsibility", dare to face difficulties and dangers, is intelligent, brave, and determined to complete the assigned tasks. Despite his young age, he has participated in many complex and dangerous projects such as: DB1221p2, DB122p, DB1221p, DB622, A222, 121V, 422C, DB223, DB823p..., of which, the typical project is DB1221p2.

Captain Vu Van Cuong shared: “In early December 2021, through reconnaissance work, I directly investigated and discovered a drug trafficking and transportation ring with a large quantity of illegal drugs from Laos to Vietnam, through the border area of ​​Dien Bien province to be transported to other provinces for consumption. Determining that this was a transnational drug trafficking and transportation ring with a large quantity, complex nature, many aggressive subjects, operating in many areas, and sophisticated transportation methods, I reported and advised the commander of the Drug and Crime Prevention Department to report to the Dien Bien Border Guard Command to establish and successfully fight and destroy the above ring”.

During the process of fighting and destroying Project DB1221p2, Captain Vu Van Cuong was assigned by the Project Board to directly command the main capture team to arrest Chang A Ma for transporting a large quantity of drugs from Laos to Vietnam. This is probably the most memorable Tet for him. After many days of ambush, early in the morning of the 3rd day of the Lunar New Year 2022 (February 3, 2022), he and his teammates caught Chang A Ma red-handed for transporting drugs at the Nam He intersection, Muong Tung commune, Muong Cha district, Dien Bien province.

“While we were arresting Ma, he drove his motorbike straight into the working group and used a knife to fight back fiercely in an attempt to escape. At that time, I quickly used professional measures to resolutely control and arrest the subject, ensuring the safety of myself and my teammates,” he shared that dangerous moment. Evidence seized at the scene included 72 heroin bars, 1 motorbike, and 1 phone. During the investigation at the scene, Chang A Ma confessed that he was hired to transport the drugs for a subject from the area of ​​landmark 65 of the Vietnam-Laos border, in Si Pha Phin commune (Nam Po district, Dien Bien province) to Lai Chau province.

The investigation continued to expand, at 7 o'clock the same day, in Sin Ho district, Lai Chau province, Captain Vu Van Cuong and his teammates arrested two more subjects, Chang A Lu and Tan Seo Chan, the ringleaders. Of these two subjects, Chan had two special dangerous wanted warrants because of drug-related issues. When arrested, Chan set a price, if he was released, he would send someone with 3 billion VND to "ransom" him. However, imbued with Uncle Ho's teaching, "as a cadre, integrity must be the top priority", Captain Vu Van Cuong and his teammates resolutely arrested and handled the subjects in accordance with the law, not letting criminals escape, and restoring peace to the people in the border area.

Fighting crime requires not only intelligence, courage, determination, and decisiveness, but also perseverance, patience, "tasting honey and lying on thorns", and waiting for the right moment. Project DB223 is still vividly imprinted in the memory of Captain Vu Van Cuong. He was assigned by his superiors to command the main capture team and directly work with the undercover team to arrest three subjects, Ca Van Tuong, Ca Van Tien, and Quang Van Duong, transporting drugs from Laos to Vietnam. To grasp the route and successfully capture the three subjects, Captain Vu Van Cuong and his teammates deployed an ambush for many days in rugged mountainous terrain.

In the Northwest, the weather is in spring, with heavy rain, lots of mosquitoes and leeches, and extremely harsh and difficult conditions, but he and his teammates are always persistent, patient, and determined to the end. The decisive moment has come, at dawn on February 25, 2023, at landmark 106, Thanh Chan commune, Dien Bien district, Dien Bien province, when 3 drug traffickers entered the ambush formation, he and his teammates approached to arrest them. When the 3 subjects discovered that they were being surrounded and arrested by the Border Guard, the leader, Duong, pulled out his gun to fight back, however, with his experience and decisive actions, Captain Vu Van Cuong quickly controlled the subjects, ensuring the safety of himself and his teammates. The above project was a great success, arresting 3 subjects in the ring, seizing 7 heroin cakes, 1kg of crystal meth and 1 gun.

Sharing about his work, Captain Vu Van Cuong said: “The subjects in the drug trafficking and trading lines have very sophisticated, reckless, dangerous tricks, and are ready to use “hot” weapons to fight back against the authorities when discovered and arrested, which makes the work of preventing and fighting crime, especially drug crimes, more and more difficult and dangerous. At the same time, the subjects are willing to use money to bribe the authorities. Therefore, as those who directly fight against drug crimes, I constantly learn knowledge and experience, promote the vanguard role of the youth in performing the task and I am always steadfast, maintain political courage, stand firm in the face of all challenges, always follow the good qualities of Uncle Ho's soldiers".

With his outstanding achievements, Captain Vu Van Cuong has been awarded 22 noble awards by the State, the Army, the Border Guard Command and all levels. In particular, in 2022, he was honored to receive the Third Class Military Exploit Medal from the President; the General Department of Politics of the Vietnam People's Army awarded a Certificate of Merit, as a Promising Young Face of the Army in 2022; the Ministry of Public Security awarded a Certificate of Merit for outstanding national examples in drug prevention and control in 2023; the People's Committee of Dien Bien awarded a Certificate of Merit for outstanding examples in implementing the patriotic emulation movement in the period 2018-2023...

Source: https://www.bienphong.com.vn/guong-mat-tre-tieu-bieu-toan-quan-nam-2023-tam-guong-dung-cam-khong-khoan-nhuong-voi-toi-pham-ma-tuy-post473224.html