50 kilos of synthetic drugs from Cambodia seized in HCMC

As the truck entered Binh Dien wholesale market in HCMC’s District 8 early Monday, it was stopped for inspection by a special force comprising the city’s police, borders guards of the southern region, and officers from the anti-smuggling and drug control team under the General Department of Vietnam Customs.

Under metal boxes containing living eels, the task force found many sacks that contain bags of tea inside.

Checking the tea bags, they found 50 kilos of synthetic drugs in total.

Suspects are detained along with the synthetic drugs seized from a truck entering HCMC from Cambodia, December 20, 2021. Photo by VnExpress/Nhat Vy

The case is being investigated further.

HCMC is a frequent location for drug-related crimes, owing to its socio-economic development status and high population. Most narcotics arrive in the city via the Golden Triangle, an intersection of China, Laos, Thailand, and Myanmar and the world’s second largest drug producing area behind the Golden Crescent in South Asia.

Drug trafficking and consumption have persisted in Vietnam though it has some of the world’s toughest laws: Those convicted of possessing or smuggling more than 600 grams of heroin or more than 2.5 kilograms of meth face the death penalty.