Seize nearly 6kg of ecstasy hidden inside gift packages

Thousands tablets of narcotics that were stuck in the middle layer of the carton box was seized by HCM City Customs. Photo: L.T

Implementing the second phase of specialized project E318, on 27/8, the Anti-Drug Enforcement Team – HCM City Customs Department, in coordination with the HCM City Express Customs Branch, Unit 6 – Anti-smuggling and Investigation Department - The General Department of Vietnam Customs, C47- The Ministry of Public Security conducted an inspection of four packages sent by express service. Then the competent force found packages inside containing 5.72 kg of ecstasy.

The subject used sophisticated tricks to hide narcotics in the gift parcels. Thousands of tablets of ecstasy were hidden with different tricks.

Accordingly, the ecstasy was stuck on two sides of double sided tape, spread in a thin layer, placed in the middle layer of the carton. Customs officials had to use a sharp knife to split each layer, then prise each tablet from the tape.

On the other hand, for the electronic speakers, the subjects used tape wrapped around many layers of drug packs, stuffed in the loudspeaker cone and re-inserted to appear normal. Customs officials had to use a screwdriver to remove each nail, and opened two new speakers to seize more than 3 kg of ecstasy.

Through the inspection, the working group seized a total of 5.72 kg of ecstasy.

Nearly 2 kg of ecstasy was pulled out from the speaker.

Discussing the tricks of the subjects that were used in the specialized project, Mr. Huynh Nam, head of the Anti-Drug Enforcement Team – HCM City Customs Department, said that this is an extension case of the E318 specialized project which had already been closed by the unit at the end of June, 2018. As a result, more than 12.5 kg of ecstasy was seized.

Earlier, through the work of grasping the situation and gathering information, in March, 2018, the team advised the leaders of the HCM City Customs Department to develop a specialized plan No.E318 for fighting against imported ecstasy (MDMA) from European countries to Ho Chi Minh City through the international post office and express service, camouflaged under the form of private non-commercial gifts.

Accordingly, the subjects in the international drug trafficking chain used the tricks of a fake consignee address on the bill of lading, and even with a real address that was an apartment building with hundreds of apartments, and a coffee shop… Therefore, the verification work had difficulties and could not be properly conducted. By using this trick, the subject could avoid their responsibility when they were detected by competent authorities. If they succeeded, the subjects would find a way to connect and transport those narcotics as the parcel was sent under the form of express delivery.

Currently, the case has not completed and is being expanded for examination at some locations.