Two suspects were allegedly caught in possession of illegal drugs on Sunday in Sam Lang Village, Nà Hỳ Commune, Nậm Pồ District. — VNA/VNS Photo

ĐIỆN BIÊN — Two suspects have been allegedly caught red-handed on illegal drug trafficking charges while in possession of 40,000 synthetic drug pills and approximately 60 grammes of heroin, according to authorities.

The Anti-Drug and Crime Prevention Office, in coordination with Nà Hỳ Border Guard Station and Nà Bủng Border Guard Station in Điện Biên Province, made the arrests on Sunday near the Việt Nam-Laos border.

Colonel Phan Văn Hóa, Commander of the Provincial Border Guard Command, said that the two suspects were arrested at 1.15pm on Sunday in Sam Lang Village, Nà Hỳ Commune, Nậm Pồ District, approximately 20 metres from the border marker on the Vietnamese side.

The two suspects were identified as Thùng Văn Hoạt, 46, a resident of Phongsaly Province, Laos, and Lèng Văn Nam, 36, a resident of Nà Hỳ 2 Village, Nậm Pồ District, Điện Biên Province.

Police said the two suspects admitted that they were hired to bring the drugs from Laos to Việt Nam to trade for VNĐ110 million (US$4,330). If the transaction had been successful, they would have been paid VNĐ10 million ($393), according to police.

The provincial border guard's investigative units are continuing the investigation.— VNS