Vietnam hands over two American fugitives to US police

The investigation office of the Ministry of Public Security on Friday handed over Wade Astle, 46, wanted for "child sexual abuse" and Hammett Andrew, 31, wanted for "manufacturing, distributing, buying or possessing drugs" to the U.S. police, Major General To An Xo, spokesman of the ministry, said Sunday.

Xo said the U.S. police was using a special aircraft to carry the two fugitives home to ensure safety and prevent possible spread of Covid-19 virus.

Earlier, the U.S. had informed Vietnamese police about the two criminals who had fled abroad.

Wade Astle (L) and Hammmett Andrew, two American fugitives, are at police stations in HCMC and the neighboring Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province. Photo courtesy of the police.

After an unspecified period of investigation and surveillance, officers of the public security ministry found Astle hiding in Ho Chi Minh City and Andrew in the neighboring Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province.

The ministry’s officers joined forces with police units in HCMC and Ba Ria-Vung Tau to arrest the duo and transported them to Hanoi to hand over them to the U.S. police.

The timing and other details of their capture were not revealed.