Narcotics sold as sexual enhancement drugs in Hanoi

Nam Tu Liem District police said Monday that most of the arrested suspects were under 25. They infused narcotic substances into dried herbs and other plant materials before taking them into the market as “Tobacco” or “American weed,” saying they enhanced libido among males.

One of the key suspects is Le Duc Thinh, who lives in HCMC. Since the beginning of this year, Thinh had been buying “Tobacco” at VND3-4 million ($126-168) a kilogram and selling it at twice the price; while “American weed” was bought at VND3.5-4 million and sold for VND5-5.5 million a kilogram.

In August and September, Thinh transferred 19 kg of “Tobacco” through the post office to Hanoi, police said. He was selling around 40 kg of products and making a profit of over VND100 million a month.

Thinh’s dealer is said to be Nguyen Huu Khanh, who’s currently on the run. A search of Khanh’s residence revealed 25.5 kg of dried herbs, along with unidentified liquids, powders and tools. There were traces of drugs in the seized evidence, forensic analysts have said.