HCM City Customs seizes more than 18kg of ecstasy hidden inside postal package

The drugs were hidden in the walls of many fabric cabinets. Photo: T.H

On April 28, Anti-Drug Enforcement Team and HCM Express Customs Branch - HCMC Customs Department worked with the Southern Anti-Drug Enforcement Unit (Anti-smuggling and Investigation Department - General Department of Vietnam Customs), C04-Ministry of Public Security and inspected three parcels imported via express delivery service and detected more than 5kg of synthetic drugs in the form of MDMA tablets (ecstasy) and 456.2 grams of marijuana.

The drugs were hidden in the walls of many fabric cabinets and mixed in with consumer goods.

Previously, after inspecting 13 suspected parcels imported from European countries by international post to Vietnam at the postal office address of 270 Ly Thuong Kiet, District 10, Customs authorities also discovered and seized a total of more than 13 kg of ecstasy and 124 grams of cocaine concealed in food and pressed between carton packaging and cloth bags.

The parcels were monitored by customs officials under the Plan No. 01/KH-KSMT-CPN approved by the Director of Ho Chi Minh City Customs Department dated February 27, 2020.

Within two months of implementing the plan, the Anti-Drug Enforcement Unit worked with the HCM Express Customs Branch to review, scan and classify 16 parcels with suspicious signs sent from Europe to the post office and express delivery service centre. Through verification, it was determined all of the above parcels had fake addresses or no recipients as stated in bills of lading.

The drug criminals used tactics of contacting for trading drugs and making payment via social networks, tracking delivery time and cargo clearance time of customs authorities to avoid responsibility when detected.

All the drugs are being held in custody by the Anti-Drug Enforcement Unit for inspection to handle.

Some pictures at the scene when competent forces conduced a physical inspection:

Packages were scanned before conducting physical inspection. Photo: T.H

Sniffer dog was mobilized to assist. Photo: T.H

Parcels contained drugs. Photo: T.H

The parcels specified the recipient's address. Photo: T.H

Customs officials must use specialised tools to take out the drugs. Photo: T.H

The fabric cabinets concealing drugs was sent in the parcels. Photo: T.H

The ecstasy pills were hidden complicatedly. Photo: T.H

The number of ecstasy pills was counted and made a report for handing over to the Police for further investigation. Photo: T.H