Hoàng Tiến Dũng and Trần Văn Tuấn with some of the illegal drugs seized. — Photo courtesy of Hà Nội Police Department

HÀ NỘI — An international drug smuggling ring, thought to be responsible for importing 62 kilogrammes of illegal narcotics into Việt Nam, has been busted by police.

Four people have been arrested following an operation by the Drug Crime Investigation Police Department in Hà Nội.

Suspected ringleader Hoàng Tiến Dũng, 27, ran a pure water shop, restaurant and transportation service in Hưng Yên Province's Yên Mỹ District.

Police alleged these businesses were just a front for his drug enterprise, which also involved his wife, Lê Thị Huyến, 25.

He is accused of arranging for drugs to be sent from Europe through international postal systems hidden among food and household items.

According to police, Trần Văn Tuấn, 19, from Yên Mỹ District's Yên Hòa Commune, was a key accomplice of Dũng. He had been assigned the tasks of receiving shipments, guarding the drug warehouse and packaging drugs for consumption.

Đào Ngọc Long, 35 years old, in Yên Hòa Commune, was an intermediary, connecting Dũng with foreign individuals to arrange drug purchases.

On March 23 and April 24, Hà Nội Police coordinated with the Hà Nội Customs Department to discover a package sent from the Netherlands and another package sent from the Czech Republic through Nội Bài International Airport. 

Police arrested Huyến in Hưng Long Commune, Văn Giang District on May 4 and seized nearly 20kg of various types of drugs hidden in beer cans and coffee makers.

Three days later, the task force collaborated with police in Phú Thọ Province and HCM City to arrest Dũng, Tuấn, and Long and seized more than 42kg of different types of drugs hidden in bubble tea and coffee bags.

During the search of Huyến's late-night restaurant, police seized 0.13 grams of synthetic drugs. — VNS