Five major drug cases

	Customs handles 24 drug cases during Lunar New Year 2022
	Three major drug cases handled at the beginning of the year
	Video: Presided over the successful dismantling of 3 major drug cases

Brigadier General Nguyen Van Vien awards Certificates of merit of the Prime Minister to individuals with outstanding achievements of C04. Photo: Provided by C04

Special case 113-T seizes 2,181 packs of heroin

After a long investigation, in November 2012, C04 established special case 113-T on fighting a drug trafficking ring from Son La to Hanoi, Bac Giang, and to China for consumption by Trang A Tang, born in 1982, in Nong Truong town, Moc Chau district, Son La, as the mastermind.

Further investigation showed that Tang bought drugs in Laos and hired people to transport them to Ta De and Lung Xa villages (Long Luong commune, Van Ho district, Son La province. The transporters were divided into many groups and equipped with weapons to fight against the authorities in case of they are discovered or arrested. Drugs were then collected at the house of Trang A Chu, Tang's father, and then sold to people in many provinces and cities.

On July 22, 2013, C04 arrested Luong Thi Thao, born in 1976, in Bac Giang for her role in the case. Thao was a wanted person in another case, and also a person who bought drugs from Trang A Tang. Thao asked to perform meritorious service to atone for her crimes and to help the police arrest Tang.

On July 26, 2013, in Song Khe commune, Bac Giang city, C04 presided over and coordinated with other authorities to catch Trang A Tang and Trang A Nenh who were transporting narcotics.

Searching the pickup truck driven by Tang, the authorities seized 265 packs of heroin and 553 pills of synthetic drugs. Tang's trick was to reinforce the truck with two bottoms, then hide the drugs. At the same time, the investigation agency also arrested Giang Thi Sua, wife of Trang A Tang.

The results of the investigation proved that the defendants had successfully sold 2,181 packs of heroin and more than 600 pills of synthetic drugs that weighed 760kg.

The People's Court of Bac Ninh province sentenced nine defendants to death and three defendants to life imprisonment in the case.

Drug lord in the guise of an entrepreneur

In early 2017, C04 discovered a place for drug trafficking in Thanh Chau, Phu Ly, Ha Nam wards, led by Doan Thi Oanh, born in 1975, who acted as a successful entrepreneur.

On March 29, 2017, in Thanh Ha commune, Thanh Liem district, Ha Nam province, the Unit for Special Case 117N caught five suspects who were the associates of the owners of the goods Oanh and Giang A Tru in trading in drugs, seizing 10 packs of heroin, 4,000 pills of synthetic drugs, four cars and other items.

Based on the testimonies of the suspects, C04 ordered the immediate arrest of Doan Thi Oanh, confiscating 2.5 packs of heroin, 2.2kg of synthetic drugs, and many related exhibits.

During the investigation, the investigation agency arrested 15 other suspects in the drug trafficking ring, and seized 13 packs of heroin, 8kg of synthetic drugs, seven cars and many other items.

In 2019, the Supreme People's Court held an appellate trial and sentenced eight defendants to death; four defendants to life imprisonment and the remaining 10 defendants to prison from 7 to 20 years.

Destroying drug ring of Chinese criminals

At the end of 2018, C04 received information that some Chinese citizens colluded with some Vietnamese-Chinese people living in Ho Chi Minh City to establish a factory for the illegal manufacture of synthetic drugs in Vietnam.

After a long investigation, the 626T Investigation Committee determined that the leader of the ring was Thai Tu Luc, who had a life sentence for illegal drug production in China, and Tong Kien Hoang, both born in 1963, of Chinese nationality.

The suspects hired a factory at Dong An Vien Import-Export Co., Ltd in Dak Ha town (Dak Ha district, Kon Tum).

On August 6, 2019, C04 presided over and coordinated with local authorities to raid the factory, and caught Thai Tu Luc and Tong Kien Hoang and five suspects engaged in the illegal production of narcotics, seizing 140 liters of solution which contains methamphetamine ingredients and 13 tons of precursors, chemicals, and 20 tons of machinery and equipment.

Ten working groups in provinces and cities searched and summoned suspects, and seized 45 tons of precursors and chemicals. It was estimated that the seized chemicals can produce nearly a ton of finished drugs. This is considered the largest drug production ring ever with very sophisticated methods and tricks.

At the same time, Chinese authorities also arrested 22 people related to this ring. C04 prosecuted the case and eight defendants for illegal production of narcotics.

In 2022, the People's Court of Kon Tum province sentenced two defendants to death, one defendant to life in prison, and five other defendants to prison from 34 months to 20 years.

Huge drug ring of two siblings

At the end of 2020, C04 identified a large drug trafficking ring from Laos through Nghe An, Ha Tinh to Ho Chi Minh City for consumption. C04 has established special case 177N, and worked with local authorities.

The Investigation Committee determined Nguyen The Thanh born in 1990, who resided in Thua Thien Hue, as the leader. The drugs were bought by Thanh from Laos, then transported through border crossings to remote locations on the border of Nghe An or Ha Tinh, then transported to Ho Chi Minh City and sold to Vo Thi Tuyet Hong, born in 1989.

Thanh’s younger brother Nguyen The Lap, born in 1998, was supporting the leader Thanh.

Lap was trusted to hand over the task of receiving drugs at the border and transporting them to Ho Chi Minh City. To transport drugs, Lap hired Nguyen Van Thang, Tran Quang Tai, both born in 1990, in Nghe An and Che Quang Khoi, born 2001 in Thua Thien Hue.

Thanh did not directly deliver drugs, but managed the transport process remotely via social networks. In order to avoid the control of the authorities, the suspects often deliver and receive drugs at the border at midnight.

At the beginning of June 2021, the Investigation Committee received information that the suspect was about to bring drugs in large quantities to Vietnam. Under the direction of Nguyen The Thanh, his accomplices rented cars on the Ho Chi Minh trail in the border area of ​​Thanh Chuong district, Nghe An to receive drugs.

After receiving the drugs, the suspects put them into suitcases and backpacks, then hid them in the car’s undercarriage to Vinh City (Nghe An). Here, some were sold to Phan Duc Ha, born in 1993 in Nghe An.

At dawn on June 15, 2021, at National Highway 13 (Thu Duc City, Ho Chi Minh City), the authorities caught Nguyen Van Thang and Che Quang Khoi while they were carrying suitcases and backpacks containing drugs, seized 30kg of synthetic meth, a gun, nine bullets and many related documents.

At the same time, the reconnaissance teams carried out a search warrant and arrested suspects including Nguyen The Thanh, Nguyen The Lap, Tran Quang Tai, Vo Thi Tuyet Hong and Phan Duc Ha, seized 2kg of drugs and many related pieces of evidence.

C04 prosecuted the case for six defendants, and seized 32kg of synthetic drugs, a gun, and nine bullets.

Tons of drugs transported by airplane from Europe to Vietnam

In early April 2021, C04 received information about drug trafficking from European countries via air to Vietnam for consumption.

Determining that this is a large drug transport case that had many suspects, and was related to many localities, C04 established special case HC421, with reconnaissance focusing on vehicles and applying measures to fight and destroy the case.

The suspects were about to use fake names, fake addresses, and sim card numbers to deliver drugs. Therefore, if it is detected that the transportation is abnormal, the suspect is ready to leave the goods and refuse to receive them. Therefore, it was required to develop a meticulous and urgent plan.

From the time of receiving the information to the time of solving the case, there was only 48 hours, so the special case committee has to work 24/7, the case included two phases.

In the first phase, on the afternoon of April 9, 2021, in Hanoi, the authorities arrested Nguyen Huy Hong, born in 1988 in Hanoi, and Le Thi Thoa, born in 1997 in Phu Tho, and seized 12.7kg of drugs.

In Hai Duong, the authorities caught Hoang Huu Thanh and seized 8.8kg of synthetic drugs. During the investigation, Thanh claimed that he still had five packages, including four packages containing drugs, which were being transported from Germany to Vietnam.

In the second phase, six working groups arrested suspects in Binh Duong and Ho Chi Minh City. On the afternoon of April 13, 2021 in Binh Duong, the authorities caught Dang Van Vang, born in 1996; residing in Yen Thanh, Nghe An while he was receiving a package containing 4.1kg of drugs and Nguyen Duy Thuong, born in 1999, residing in Loc Ninh, Binh Phuoc while he was receiving a package containing 5kg of drugs.

In Ho Chi Minh City, the investigation unit arrested many suspects and seized dozens of kilos of drugs in many different locations.

So far, C04 has prosecuted eight cases, 16 defendants, and seized more than 127kg of drugs of all kinds and many related pieces of evidence. This is a case with the largest amount of drugs transported from European countries to Vietnam by air. The case is being investigated.