HCMC police seize 245 kg of drugs in network involving 4 flight attendants

As of Saturday, the total number of arrests in the case has reached 1,529, marking the operation as "the largest in the city’s history." This investigation has expanded following the earlier arrests of Ngo Van Minh and Pham Nguyen Kim Hong in 2024, both charged with illegal drug trafficking.

The police uncovered two criminal rings responsible for transporting large quantities of narcotics into Ho Chi Minh City and neighboring Binh Duong Province, particularly during public holidays. On April 24 and 25, 27 suspects were apprehended, and over 245 kilograms of drugs were confiscated. The identities of the arrested individuals have not been disclosed.

The seized drugs found at the suspects’ homes. Photo by Ho Chi Minh City police

The investigation initially began on March 16, 2023, when customs officers at Tan Son Nhat International Airport found suspicious toothpaste tubes in the luggage of four Vietnam Airlines attendants returning from France on flight VN10. Authorities discovered more than 8 kilograms of ecstasy and over 3 kilograms of cocaine and ketamine hidden inside the tubes. The attendants claimed they were unaware of the drugs inside and were paid VND10 million ($385) to transport the items. They were later released.

Following this, the Ho Chi Minh City police set up a special task force and arrested 36 suspects on the first day of the investigation. The operation was traced to its leaders in Nghe An, Central Vietnam, who had successfully smuggled drugs through Noi Bai Airport to Ho Chi Minh City and other regions. The seventh shipment, the first through Tan Son Nhat Airport, involved the four attendants carrying the drugs by hand.

After 10 months of investigation, police have broken up 150 drug trafficking rings operating across multiple provinces. A total of 381 individuals have been charged, and 130 kilograms of drugs have been seized. Authorities also identified 3,000 accounts linked to the criminal groups, which were involved in transactions totaling more than VND22,000 billion.

The investigation has since expanded, with over 500 branches of the trafficking network dismantled across 36 provinces. To date, 1,529 suspects have been arrested, and 568.5 kilograms of various drugs, along with 12 firearms, 67 rounds of ammunition, three grenades, and other evidence, have been seized. Investigators have also traced drug trafficking transactions worth over VND29,000 billion.

In recognition of the exceptional efforts of the team, the Ministry of Public Security awarded commendation letters and cash rewards to the police units involved in the operation. The Ministry of Public Security and the Prime Minister also honored the team for their outstanding work in May 2023 and April 2024.