A vice-principal of a school in the northern province of Bac Kan has been caught using drugs with three other people, including one teacher, in his office.
The provincial Department of Police confirmed on Saturday they had found Duong Xuan Kiem, 52, who is the vice-principal of An Thang Elementary and Middle School in Pac Nam District, using narcotics in his office at around 10:00 pm on Thursday.
Three other people, namely Ly Nguyen Bao – a 47-year-old teacher at the school, Mong Van Duy, 32, and Ma Van Dan, were also present in the room.
All four people later tested positive for drugs.
Duong Xuan Kiem is shown in this photo provided by police in Bac Kan Province, Vietnam.
Officers found seven balls of opium, two opium bottles, a set of tools for using the stimulant, an electric stick, and four mobile phones.
Further investigation is ongoing.
According to Vietnamese law, using drugs is punishable by a fine worth VND500,000-1 million (US$21.5-43).Tuoi Tre News reported.
Vietnam registers more than 10,000 new drug users last year, with the users getting younger and being concentrated in the southern region.
As of last November the country had 235,314 drug addicts in its official records, 10,215 more than a year earlier.
According to a report on VNExpress, the number of addicts aged between 12 and 18 is on the rise, and it is difficult to send them to rehab due to legal complications arising from international charters on child rights Vietnam has signed.
Vietnam treats drug addiction as a “social evil.”