VIETNAM CUSTOMS GET US$5M TO FIGHT DRUG TRAFFICKING

HANOI, Vietnam (AP) - Vietnam's government plans to spend 77 billion dong
(dlrs 5 million) on new equipment, training and drug-sniffing dogs to help
its customs agency fight drug trafficking, an official said Friday.

The money is to be spent over the next five years, the General Department
of Customs official said.

The official said it was important for Vietnam to curb drug smuggling at
its borders rather than trying to stop the illegal trade inside the country.

Most of Vietnam's known 120,000 drug addicts use heroin, which is smuggled
from the notorious Golden Triangle where the borders of Laos, Myanmar and
Thailand meet.

Drug-related crimes have shown no sign of decline in Vietnam despite tough
penalties. Last year, 55 people were put to death by firing squads for
drug-related offenses.