The country’s deputy police chief has declared war on armed gangs that have been wreaking havoc in Ho Chi Minh City and jewellery stores in southern localities.

At a conference to review police efforts in Hanoi on July 4, Deputy Minister of Public Security Sen. Lieu. General Le The Tiem said that gangsters armed with guns and explosives would not be tolerated in the country as their very existence posed a threat to society.

According to the Ministry of Public Security, police unearthed 18,000 cases of criminal activity and broke up close to 2,000 criminal rings in the first of the year.

Over 4,000 drug-trafficking cases involving 6,282 people were discovered and prosecuted with their biggest ever seizure of 28.4 kg of narcotics, over 7 tonnes of fresh marijuana and more than 19,700 ecstasy pills.

The Ministry said 6,320 economic crimes were on the books, including 5,482 cases involving smuggling and the trading of banned goods.