Police officers in Vietnam have busted an illegal ring that smuggled over 100 kilograms of heroin from Laos into Vietnam before attempting to distribute the stimulant in China.

The anti-drug unit under the Ministry of Public Security confirmed on Sunday they had broken up the transnational drug ring run by Tran Van Bang, who resides in the northern Vietnamese province of Vinh Phuc.

After gathering enough information, officers under the anti-drug division, in coordination with the Department of Police in the northern provinces of Cao Bang and Hoa Binh, initiated their investigation in January.

On the night of February 23, a team of law enforcers spotted two automobiles driven by Bang and his cousin, Tran Tien Thanh, in Hoa An District, Cao Bang Province, before signaling them to pull over.

Tran Van Bang at the police station. Photo: Tuoi Tre

The two did not comply with the request and instead sped up toward the officers.

The police unit had to fire warning shots and managed to apprehend the suspects, confiscating several suitcases and handbags containing drugs on their vehicles.

A total of 288 bricks of heroin, weighing 100.8 kilograms and costing about VND57 billion (US$2.5 million), were discovered inside the bags.

Competent authorities check the confiscated drugs. Photo: Tuoi Tre

Following a search of Bang’s house, officers found another 100 pills of synthetic drug and VND1 billion ($43,973).

Three other members of Bang’s ring, Phan Van Hien, Nong Van Hoan, and Nong Tai Kinh, were arrested within the following day.

According to his statements, Bang is the leader of the drug ring, which often smuggled narcotics from Laos into Vietnam before transporting them to China for distribution.

Smuggling drugs is punishable by death in Vietnam, according to local laws.

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