Police seize drugs from three drug trafficking rings nationwide. Photo courtesy of the Ministry of Public Security's drug crime investigation police department

HÀ NỘI — The drug crime investigation police department announced on Tuesday it has busted three drug trafficking rings nationwide, arresting 17 suspects and seizing tens of kilos of drugs.

In the first case, Đỗ Tuấn Bảo, 36, residing in HCM City’s District 6 and Võ Quốc Hoà, 27, in Cần Thơ City’s Ô Môn District, were caught red-handed carrying 45kg of heroin and 18,000 ecstasy pills.

The police seized a further 8kg of ecstasy during a raid of Hoà’s house on June 20.

Expanding the investigation into the case, the city’s police arrested the ring leaders, including Lê Quang Trường, 37, Nguyễn Công Nhật, 42, both residing in District 10 and Nguyễn Văn Phương, 30, in Bình Tân District.

Police raided Phương’s house and seized 300g of heroin, 200 ecstasy pills and a gun with five bullets.

The second case saw the arrest of six suspects from a northern mountainous province on June 29. 

Thào A Gấu, 30, Lầu A Vừ, 22, and Hạ A Nù, 22, residing in Điện Biên Province’s Phì Nhừ Commune, were detained when transporting 18.9kg of heroin to Hà Nội’s Đông Anh District.

Three more suspects were arrested later. Nông Văn Hải, 36, in Cao Bằng Province’s Trùng Khánh District, were caught and two guns with seven bullets were seized.

Sùng A Của, 30, was caught when trying to flee in Đông Anh District’s Kim Chung Commune. The ring leader, Giàng A Só, 37, residing in ĐIện Biên Province’s Nậm Pồ District, was caught when hiding in Tây Hồ District.

The third ring consisted of Trần Thanh Phong, 53, in HCM City, and his five accomplices, including Nguyễn Hợp Toàn, 45, Tô Hoài Đức, 32, Phạm Minh Sang, 33, Nguyễn Thị Diệu Hiền, 26, Phan Thị Xuân, 43, all residing in HCM City.

More than 5.5kg of methamphetamine, six guns with 23 bullets, one grenade, and electric batons and Japanese swords were seized on June 30. — VNS