Police counting drugs hidden in toothpaste tubes seized from the luggage of four flight attendants. — VNA/VNS Photo Bùi Cương Quyết

HCM CITY — Recent investigations have exposed a web of illicit drug transactions related to the flight attendants' drug case amounting to more than VNĐ25 trillion (US$1 billion).

That was the remark by Major General Mai Hoàng, deputy director of the HCM City's Police Department, at a meeting on crime-fighting on Wednesday.

He said HCM City had witnessed a sharp rise in drug-related crimes recently. In the first three months of 2024, police discovered 813 cases involving 2,019 offenders, twice as high as the same period last year.

In the case involving four flight attendants smuggling drugs from France to Việt Nam, the police dismantled 180 related networks and prosecuted 543 suspects, seizing 212kg of drugs and 10 firearms.

"The police have established evidence linking the detained individuals to drug transactions amounting to more than VNĐ25 trillion," said Hoàng.

Regarding criminals increasingly exploiting online platforms for drug deals, Hoàng said the police were taking measures targeting both the supply and the demand sides to curb the crime.

The major general also said the police had submitted files recommending the prosecution of 254 suspects related to vehicle registration irregularities in the city.

He highlighted certain limitations in fighting certain types of crimes. He said the crimes had decreased in cases but the reduction was not solid.

He also said the number of fires had been reduced, but the city still witnessed big fires causing severe damage to people and property. — VNS