Large drug trafficking cases uncovered, many defendants face death penalty

Large drug trafficking cases have uncovered

The April 17 drug raid in Quang Ninh, where Lieutenant Nguyen Dang Khai (29) lost his life, left the public reeling. Before the shock subsided, Phu Tho Police announced the successful takedown of the province’s largest-ever drug case.

After over 10 months of investigation, Phu Tho Police finalized their report, transferring the case to the provincial People’s Procuracy to prosecute 73 suspects. Of them, 29 face charges under Clause 4, Article 251 of the Penal Code, with the maximum penalty of death.

The case began from a small-scale drug-dealing point in Cam Khe District, led by Hoang Van Thu, 48. Initial clues uncovered an inter-provincial, even transnational, drug trafficking network.

During the investigation, agencies seized massive evidence, including over 27 heroin bricks, nearly 278,000 ecstasy pills, hundreds of grams of crystal meth, seven kilograms of ketamine, and other drugs. They also confiscated five guns, 20 bullets, drug production equipment, and about VND2 billion in cash.

More recently, on March 22, the Drug Crime Investigation Police Department (C04), in coordination with Ministry of Public Security units, busted the nation’s largest illegal drug production case to date.

In this operation, C04 arrested 11 suspects (4 Chinese, 3 Taiwanese, 4 Vietnamese), seizing 1.4 tons of high-purity ketamine and nearly 80 tons of chemicals.

C04 found that the ringleader was Truong Xuan Minh, 51, of Taiwanese nationality, China. He came to Vietnam in 2021, where he has lived and worked under the guise of a businessman and investor, and breeds ornamental fish. He connected with locals to rent land, set up workshops, and hire workers to produce drugs.


Relentless crackdown on drug rings

The battle against drug crimes in Vietnam has grown increasingly intense. From border regions to major cities, police forces are tirelessly combating large-scale drug trafficking and distribution networks.

In 2024 alone, the Drug Crime Investigation Police handled nearly 30,000 cases, arrested over 51,000 suspects, and seized tons of various drugs and hundreds of firearms. Several high-profile cases highlight the growing audacity and sophistication of criminals.

On November 15, 2024, in the southern province of Binh Duong, C04 caught Duong Dinh Quang, 31, from Dong Nai and Nguyen Tien Dung, 31, delivering 15 sacks of marijuana. Based on their confessions, authorities raided warehouses in HCM City, Bac Giang, Dong Nai, and Vietnam Post, seizing about 200 kilograms of marijuana and arresting nine suspects. The exhibits totaled 550 kilograms of dried marijuana, 10 kilograms of cannabis resin, and 1.2 tons of packaging, food, and tea used to disguise drugs.

On November 6, 2024, the investigation of Case 424G in Tay Ninh wrapped up, leading to the arrest of Dang Thanh Tuan, 44, in Thong Nhat District in Dong Nai, and Pham Van Tien, 36, in Bien Hoa City, with 30 kilograms of crystal meth, 16 kilograms of ketamine, one gun, and many exhibits seized. At a Tay Ninh storage site, an additional 52 kilograms of synthetic drugs, 900 “happy water” packs, 200 candy pills, and documents were found.

On August 30, 2024, at My Dinh Stadium in Hanoi, authorities caught a group transporting 110 kilograms of synthetic drugs. The case yielded 211 kilograms of drugs and 10 arrests, including a Laotian ringleader.

On February 23, 2024, Hanoi Police discovered a social media-based drug ring led by Hoang Van Ha and Huynh Huu Hoang, seizing over 700 kilograms of marijuana, along with packaging equipment, hydraulic presses, and electronic scales.

On January 21, 2024, C04 and other forces inspected Phuong Lam Bar in HCM City, seizing 435 grams of synthetic drugs and identified 79 people testing positive. The bar, operating all night with a VND50 billion sound system, had staff selling drugs openly.

Following a case involving airline crew smuggling drugs from France, HCM City Police expanded investigations, busting hundreds of rings. To date, they’ve prosecuted 318 cases, arrested 961 suspects, and seized over 319kg of drugs, 12 guns, three grenades, and related exhibits. The total drug transaction value exceeded VND28,000 billion.

Rising numbers, increasingly sophisticated and brazen methods, and even armed criminals show that drug crimes remain a major challenge for authorities.

Most recently, Thanh Hoa Police discovered an inter-provincial drug trafficking ring, led by Nguyen Ba Khanh, born 1989, residing in An Hung Ward, Thanh Hoa City. Khanh often went to Hanoi to rent luxury hotels and motels to buy and sell drugs, sending them by bus to Thanh Hoa.


VietBF@ Sưu tập