Eight Lao men caught carrying 10 kg meth into Vietnam

The guards caught the group at the Lao Bao International Border Gate in Huong Hoa District, which borders Laos.

They seized 10 kg of meth, a K59 pistol with four bullets, two cars and two fake license plates.

Local authorities said the eight Lao nationals were regular drug traffickers operating close to the border and typically armed during their trips.

Since the beginning of this year, Quang Tri border guards have busted 40 drug cases, arrested 78 people and seized more than 900,000 synthetic drug tablets, 41 kg of meth, 4.5 kg of ketamine and 804 kg of marijuana.

Those convicted of possessing or smuggling more than 600 grams of heroin or more than 2.5 kilograms of methamphetamine face the death penalty in Vietnam. The production or sale of 100 grams of heroin or 300 grams of other illegal narcotics is also punishable by death.

But despite some of the world's toughest drug laws, drug busts remain a frequent occurrence in the country.