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Exhibits in the seizure of 250,000 drugs have been carried out by Lao Cai Police. Photo: Lao Cai police

Journey to seize the biggest case in Lao Cai

On October 1, the Drug Crime Investigation Police Department (PC 04, Lao Cai province police) coordinated with the Muong Khuong District Police to destroy a major drug case, seizing 250,000synthetic drug tablets. This is the biggest case in the northwestern border province.

Regarding the journey of fighting and destroying the case, according to the Lao Cai province police, during the mission, the reconnaissance force discovered a smuggled drug line from abroad into Lao Cai, then continued to smuggle drugs to a third country for consumption through the territory of Pha Long commune, Muong Khuong district (Lao Cai).

After receiving the clues in the line, the reconnaissance force discovered Vang Lien Hoa, born in 1998, residing in Pac Bo village, Ban Lau commune, Muong Khuong district (Lao Cai), an important link to foreigners who smuggle drugs into the country.

On September 30, the Project Committee set up five reconnaissance teams. Of which, three teams blocked access roads in Muong Khuong district.

Unexpectedly, on the night of September 30, heavy rainin Lao Cai affected the implementation of the plan. However, the Project Committee stated this does not exclude the possibility of the suspect taking advantage of the thunderstorm to commit criminal acts, so it should direct the reconnaissance teams to stay in the assigned areas according to the overnight plan under the pouring rain.

At about 7:50am on October 1, when the driver of the BKS 24C 062.07 pickup truck was discovered, the reconnaissance team was ordered to stop the car, successfully arresting the suspect and seizing 250,000 synthetic drug tablets.

At the investigation police agency, Vang Lien Hoa confessed that, about two years ago, Hoa met and befriended a man named Pao on a trip in Hekou, Yunnan, China.

About five days ago, Pao called Hoa to propose to transport drugsfrom Na Doc village, Ban Lau commune to Pha Long commune, Muong Khuong district with a salary of VND100 million. When arriving in Pha Long commune, someone will receive the goods and pay the wages. After agreeing, at 8pm on September 30, after listening to Pao's call, Hoa drove his pickup truck to the border area of ​​Na Doc village, Ban Phiet commune to pick up the goods. At this time, Pao gave Hoa two bags, containing drugs, divided into many small rectangular boxes.

In the process of moving, the subject is very sly, often stopping to observe his surroundings without going straight to Pha Long. At dawn on October 1, when moving to the gate area of Ma Tuyen residential group, Muong Khuong town, the subject was arrested by forces with all the exhibits as mentioned above.

Heroin in Project DT 4.20, chaired by Team 5 (Anti-Smuggling and Investigation Department), coordinated with functional units to arrest in July 2020. Photo: Team 5

Many complicated situations

Talking to reporters, a leader of the Anti-Smuggling Drug Control Team in the North - Team 5 (The Anti-Smuggling and Investigation Department, General Department of Customs) said that since the beginning of 2020,the drug crime situation in the northwestern border area was resurfacing. The key areas are still concentrated in Son La, Dien Bien, Lao Cai.

According to the Anti-Smuggling and Investigation Department, for the first nine months of the year, Team 5 alone presided over and coordinated in destroying eight drug cases, with 14 suspects; seized more than 13.6kg and 113 bricks of heroin, 86,200 synthetic drug tablets.

Typically, Project DT 4.20, seized 54 bricks of heroin. Specifically, at 11:10pm on July 7, at Km103, Highway 12, passing through Tin Toc village, Muong Tung commune, Muong Cha district, Dien Bien province (from Muong Te to Muong Lay town), Team 5 co-ordinated with C04 (Ministry of Public Security), PC04 (Dien Bien Provincial Police), Muong Lay Town Police (Dien Bien Province) and Drug Control Team (Dien Bien Customs Department) to arrest Thao A Da, who was born on January 1, 1994, residing in Chuyen Gia 2 village, Nam Ke commune, Muong Nhe district, Dien Bien province and confiscated the large amount of heroin mentioned above.

Talking more about the drug crime situation in the area, Director of the Son La Customs Branch (Dien Bien Customs Department) Nguyen Thi Ha said that trading and transporting drugs from Laos to Vietnam, and then moving to the third country was increasingly complicated.

“Instead of transporting drugs in small quantities as before, drug traffickers now do it in large quantities. At the same time, they use local people, lacking jobs, and fluent in the area to transport, even using modern communication equipment and social networks. Heroin and synthetic drugs are the main types that are traded and transported in the Son La border area,” Ms. Nguyen Thi Ha said.

In the face of drug crime, Son La Customs Branch strengthened coordination with border forces, police and competent units in the industry to destroy many major schemes.

Recently, on August 31, at Tien Son village, Chieng Khuong commune, Song Ma district, Son La province, Song Ma district police, Son La presided over and coordinated with forces such as Customs and Border Guard to arrested Ca Van De (also known as Ca Van Le), born in 1976 (residing in La village, Chieng Khuong commune, Song Ma district, Son La province), and seized 30 plastic bags containing 6,000 tablets, a motorcycle and other related evidence.