On the morning of June 18th, Lieutenant General Nguyen Van Vien, Director of the Drug Crime Investigation Department (C04, Ministry of Public Security ), stated that in the first six months of 2024, the nationwide drug crime investigation force cracked 14,461 cases, arrested over 23,110 suspects, and seized over 196 kg of heroin, 2.34 tons and 1.47 million pills of synthetic drugs, and 882 kg of cannabis.

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Lieutenant General Nguyen Van Vien - Director of the Department of Criminal Investigation of Drug Crimes.

For example, in case 199T, the C04 Department initiated legal proceedings and indicted 7 defendants for the illegal buying, selling, and transporting of narcotics. In this case, nearly 90kg of various types of drugs were seized (including 59kg of synthetic ketamine and methamphetamine, and 25kg of ecstasy) along with many items used to conceal the drugs.

According to investigative documents, the Drug Crime Investigation Police Department discovered a drug trafficking ring that illegally bought and transported narcotics from abroad to Vietnam for consumption, led by Hoang Ba Duong (25 years old) and Hoang Van Thanh (26 years old), both from Nam Sach, Hai Duong province.

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Drugs in the form of "mango tea" drink seized at the suspects' homes. Photo: CACC

The suspects' tactic was to hide the drugs inside heaters, hot pots, and powdered milk containers, then use transportation services to evade detection by law enforcement.

Following the establishment of a special investigation, on March 7th, in an urban area in Hung Yen province, the C04 Department, in coordination with other units, caught Hoang Ba Duong red-handed, seizing 53kg of synthetic drugs and over 3,600 packets of "happy water" (disguised as "mango tea"). The suspect had used heaters, milk cartons, etc., to conceal the drugs inside.

At the same time, another task force raided a house in Tu Dinh area (Long Bien ward, Long Bien district, Hanoi) and arrested three suspects: Dinh Xuan Duong (38 years old), Nguyen Van Linh (42 years old), and Pham Van Viet (33 years old), all from Hai Duong province, seizing over 5kg of synthetic drugs. This was also the place the suspects used to store and package the drugs.

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The suspects concealed the drugs inside heaters, frying pans, etc. Photo: CACC

Simultaneously, another task force raided an apartment in a Hanoi urban area, catching Hoang Van Thanh and two other suspects red-handed. They seized two plastic bags containing crystals suspected to be drugs, and 10 heating lamps used to conceal the drugs. During questioning, the suspects confessed to their crimes.

To date, Department 04 has initiated legal proceedings and indicted 7 defendants for the illegal buying, selling, and transporting of narcotics. They seized 59kg of synthetic drugs and methamphetamine, 25kg of "mango juice" ecstasy, and numerous items used to conceal the drugs.