Two men caught smuggling 30 kg ketamine to HCMC

By Hoang Tao October 11, 2022 | 04:38 am PT

30 kg of ketamine bound for HCMC are seized by police of Quang Tri in central Vietnam. Photo by VnExpress/Quang Ha

Two men in central Vietnam’s Quang Tri Province were arrested while smuggling 30 kg of ketamine into HCMC for a promised fee of VND100 million ($4,117).

Nguyen Dang Tuan, 32, and Chu Dinh Bang, 25, were arrested October 7 near the Eastern Bus Station of Ho Chi Minh City with all evidence, Dong Ha police said Tuesday.

Tuan and Bang said they were hired to transport the drug and they had agreed to split the payment after the deal is done.

Vietnam has been identified by security agencies as a key trafficking hub for narcotics despite having some of the world's toughest drug laws.

Those convicted of possessing or smuggling more than 600 grams of heroin or more than 2.5 kilograms of meth face the death penalty.