General Department of Vietnam Customs closes specialised case of eight bricks of heroin

Drugs are seized by Customs force. Photo provided by Quang Tri Customs Department

General Department of Vietnam Customs (GDVC) informed the press about the case on August 6.

According to GDVC, facing the complex situation of trading and transportation of drugs from Laos to Vietnam through border area of Quang Tri province with tricks and methods, Quang Tri Customs Department promulgated Plan No.907/KH-HQQT dated May 31, 2022 on the implementation of peak period on drug-related crime prevention.

Implementing the above plan, Lao Bao Customs Branch (Quang Tri Customs Department) strengthened professional measures on inspection, control and information collection to build up a risk portfolio for means of transport on exit and entry and risk portfolio for vehicle drivers.

Drugs are hidden in the passenger car. Photo provided by Quang Tri Customs

The unit strengthened the use at full capacity of equipment such as; luggage scanning machine, portable drug detector, and sniffer dogs for anti-smuggling and fighting against drug trafficking, trading and storage of key means of transport and luggage.

Through information collection and analysis of the subject, Lao Bao Customs Branch reported to leaders at all levels to establish specialized project No. CB227 to fight against drug trafficking, trading and storage of subjects traveling on passenger cars from Laos to Vietnam which occurred at Lao Bao International Border Gate (Quang Tri province).

Accordingly, at 7:55 AM on August 1, 2022, at the inspection area of means of transport on entry at Lao Bao International Border Gate, based on the risk portfolio, Lao Bao Customs Branch identified the right key person and vehicles. The unit conducted an inspection passenger car with a license plated Laos No.4429 driven by Tran Cong Minh (living in Thua Thien Hue) with luggage.

Through inspection by HI-SCAN scanning machine system and other equipment, Lao Bao Customs Branch detected drugs that were hidden inside the packaging of an evaporator. It is known that this shipment was to be sent on consignment to HCM City.

Competent force arrested the subject. Photo provided by Quang Tri Customs

After identifying this car passenger in the specialized project, Quang Tri Customs Department reported to Director General of Vietnam Customs.

With the seriousness of the case, Director General of Vietnam Customs Nguyen Van Can directed Quang Tri Customs Department to chair and coordinate with Police and Border Defence force to carry out professional measures to arrest the instigator, related people and exhibit the case.

Implementing the directives of Director General of Vietnam Customs, Customs forces arranged human resources to follow the line of transnational drug-related crime.

At 1:45 PM on August 2, at the address of 2/17 Hong Ha street, ward 2, Tan Binh District, HCM City, Quang Tri Customs coordinated with competent force to arrest Ngo Quoc Hung (was born in 1995, living in Ngoc Long village, Yen My commune, Hung Yen province) while he was receiving package which contained eight bricks of heroin inside.

Continuing fighting and conducting an urgent examination, competent force detected Nguyen Hoang Tung (live in Tay Ho district, Hanoi City) who lived in room 203 of the above house along with 2kg of methamphetamine.

The case is being continued investigated and handled as prescribed. This is an important victory, showing the growth of the Customs force in the fight against the lines of transnational drug-related crime following the directives of the Director General of Vietnam Customs which successfully arrest both exhibits and subjects in the case of violation.