Police in the northern Vietnamese province of Son La have cracked down on a large drug ring, detaining four men and seizing 161 bricks of heroin, as well as weapons, hidden in a car.

>> 1 Vietnam police officer, 2 drug traffickers die in fire exchange >> Vietnam upholds 29 out of 30 death sentences for drug traffickers >> Vietnam sentences Thai woman, 3 locals to death for heroin trafficking This is the largest drug trafficking case ever uncovered in the province, police said. Ngo Minh Loan, 29; Bui Tuan Linh, 24; Nguyen Van Thuong, 28; and Dao Xuan Lam, 28, were arrested Thursday afternoon after a police team stopped their suspicious car on National Highway 6 in Moc Chau District examination. The officers then found 161 bricks of white powder, a handgun, and a grenade in the vehicle. They also seized  US$2,300, VND20 million ($940), eight mobile phones, and the car from the traffickers. The police later seized another car belonging to the ring.  Loan and Linh confirmed to police that the white powder was heroin, weighing about 56 kg, and that they were on their way to deliver to drug traders. Police are expanding the investigation to track down others involved in the ring. On July 19, Son La police also busted another large drug ring, arresting five drug traffickers and confiscating five guns after a fierce firefight. The violent incident occurred in Van Ho Commune after anti-drug police discovered two groups of 25 transnational drug traffickers from Laos.

Police mobilized more than 60 officers to surround the illegal drug transporters, who were armed with at least 22 guns, including AK assault rifles, carbines, and handguns.

During the exchange Senior Lieutenant Luong Phat Chiem was hit by a bullet in one of his eyes, and three other officers were also injured.     The injured were taken to a hospital, but Chiem died on the way.

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