Recently, the anti-drug force has discovered and destroyed many illegal drug trafficking rings. Notably, the subjects often "camouflage" drugs in suitcases, food, cosmetics to transport by air.

On October 31, the Drug Crime Investigation Police Department of Nghe An Provincial Police coordinated with Quynh Luu District Police, the Drug Crime Investigation Police Department ( Hanoi City Police) and Hanoi City Customs Department to dismantle a drug trafficking ring by air.

Through the investigation, the authorities identified Nguyen Van Ba ​​(born in 1993, residing in Quynh Giang commune, Quynh Luu district, Nghe An ) as the recipient of 16 packages of milk suspected of containing synthetic drugs. These packages were sent from Europe to Hanoi via Noi Bai International Airport, then transferred to Quynh Luu district.

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The shell is a milk carton, inside is full of drugs. Photo: Nghe An Police

On October 25, authorities caught Nguyen Van Ba ​​red-handed when he had just received the goods and was about to leave the ticket office of a transport company in Quynh Luu district.

During a vehicle and person check, police discovered 9.3kg of ketamine disguised in 16 packages of milk. During an emergency search of Ba’s residence, authorities seized an additional 600 synthetic drug pills.

Previously, in March 2023, customs at Tan Son Nhat International Airport (HCMC) also discovered more than 8kg of ecstasy and more than 3kg of cocaine and ketamine in the luggage of 4 flight attendants on a flight from France. These people admitted to transporting the cream tubes for a fee of 10 million VND and did not know there were drugs inside.

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Drugs disguised as toothpaste tubes. Photo: CACC

By April 2023, the Ho Chi Minh City Police Department had prosecuted 22 cases with 65 defendants to continue investigating and clarifying the acts of illegal buying, selling, transporting, and storing of drugs, failing to report crimes, and concealing crimes. At the same time, 12 subjects were administratively sanctioned. The authorities seized nearly 50kg of various synthetic drugs, 2 guns, and many related exhibits.

Previously, in January 2023, at Noi Bai International Airport, the Drug Crime Investigation Police Department coordinated with the City Customs Department to discover packages suspected of containing drugs.

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A large quantity of drugs was discovered by authorities. Photo: CACC

Upon inspection, the authorities discovered 3 bills of lading, including 8 packages and cartons weighing a total of more than 205kg, sent from the Federal Republic of Germany. Inside the packages and cartons contained 98kg of synthetic drugs, including 45kg of MDMA, 53kg of Ketamine and 2,000 packets of "happy water".

Hanoi City Police, City Customs Department and Ho Chi Minh City Police have arrested 3 subjects related to the case.

A representative of the Drug Crime Investigation Police Department (C04, Ministry of Public Security ) said that the situation of drug trafficking by air has recently become more complicated. Drugs are mainly transported from European countries such as Germany, the Netherlands, England, Belgium, and France due to their high purity, low cost, and convenience when transported to Vietnam by air.

Criminals often take advantage of postal and courier companies and air passengers to transport drugs.

The masterminds of these networks are mostly Vietnamese people living abroad, who then connect with domestic criminals. They take advantage of buying and selling consigned goods at the airport or through logistics companies.