Spanish model Andrea Aybar faces charges for organizing drug usage, storage in HCMC

By Quoc Thang November 13, 2024 | 11:03 pm PT

Spanish model Andrea Aybar is handcuffed at a police station in HCMC. Photo courtesy of the police

Spanish model Andrea Aybar was put under criminal investigation on Thursday for storing and organizing the use of narcotics in Ho Chi Minh City.

Aybar, 29, whose Vietnamese name is Nguyen Thi An, is now being probed by HCMC police for charges of "illegal storage of narcotic substances" and "facilitation of illegal use of narcotic substances".

Singer Nguyen Trung Hieu, 35, also known as Chi Dan; along with Nguyen Do Truc Phuong, a social media influencer, have also been detained for the alleged facilitation of illegal use of narcotic substances.

Previously on Nov. 9, a raid at an apartment in Thu Duc City found Aybar and several other people showing signs of using drugs. Tests revealed that the Spanish model was positive for drugs.

The police also found Aybar hiding drugs. The police then took her and several others into custody.

Chi Dan was detained by the police of Tan Binh District after being caught red-handedly using drugs with other people. They tested positive for drugs as well.

The probe is the latest development of a HCMC police campaign to hunt down a drug trafficking ring through airports from France to Vietnam. By tracking down leads, the police have managed to bust 146 rings and groups for drug trafficking, with 630 suspects.

So far, the campaign has busted around 500 drug trafficking rings and gangs, put 1,132 suspects under investigation, seized 323.5 kg of drugs, along with weapons and other pieces of evidence.

Authorities said the suspects have traded drugs worth over VND28 trillion ($1.1 billion).

Aybar is a Spanish national who has been living in Vietnam since a young age. She speaks fluent English, Vietnamese and Spanish. She had been modeling and acting in films, but has not been active in the entertainment industry in the last few years.