3 arrested for transporting illicit drug from Laos to Vietnam

HANOI, Feb. 16 -- Vietnamese police have detained three local men, members of a Laos-Vietnam drug trafficking ring, and seized 9 kg of crystal methamphetamine and 2,000 meth pills, local media reported on Saturday.

Police of central Ha Tinh province and of the Drug Crime Police Department under the Ministry of Public Security on Friday detected Nguyen Thanh Trung from the province, who was travelling with his two accomplices in two pickup trucks on National Road 8C from Laos, Vietnam News Agency reported.

Trung attempted to run away when he was being chased by the police. However, all three smugglers, armed with a handgun and a grenade, were arrested on the same day.

The men were part of a trafficking ring from Laos into Vietnam through Cau Treo international border gate in Ha Tinh.

According to Vietnamese law, those convicted of smuggling over 600 grams of heroin or more than 2.5 kg of methamphetamine are punishable by death. Making or trading 100 grams of heroin or 300 grams of other illegal drugs also faces death penalty.