Man caught transporting 9 kg of ketamine smuggled from Europe to Hanoi in milk cartons

Nguyen Van Ba, 31, is now under investigation for the illegal transportation of narcotics, Nghe An provincial police announced on Thursday.

The arrest took place after police stopped Ba for inspection last Friday as he was driving in Quynh Luu District and displayed suspicious behavior. When pulled over, Ba attempted to flee but was quickly apprehended by police.

Upon searching his vehicle, police found 16 cartons of formula milk containing the hidden drugs. Initially, Ba denied involvement and even attempted suicide, but he later confessed to the crime.

Drugs hidden in milk cartons that were transported from Europe to Vietnam by air. Photo by VnExpress/Phan Tuyet

Ba told police that an unidentified Vietnamese individual living in Europe sent the drugs disguised as formula milk to Noi Bai airport in Hanoi.

The cartons were then transferred to a warehouse operated by a transportation company in Quynh Luu District, where Ba collected them for delivery.

Vietnam has some of the strictest drug laws in the world, including the death penalty for those convicted of possessing or smuggling over 600 grams of heroin or cocaine, or more than 2.5 kg of methamphetamine. The production or sale of 100 grams of heroin or 300 grams of other narcotics also carries the death penalty.