Brian Jeffrey
On May 18, authorities in Thanh Hoa revealed the breakup of an elaborate network that was involved in the manufacture and distribution of illegal substances, notably nitrous oxide. This extensive operation reached across various provinces and cities such as Hanoi, Hai Phong, Bac Giang, Vinh Phuc, Hoa Binh, Phu Tho, and Bac Ninh, utilizing advanced and secretive methods.
The provincial police initiated a targeted effort to dismantle this operation, utilizing specialized personnel and strategies.
In the early morning hours of May 2, the Drug Crime Investigation Police Department, along with the Police Department of Administrative Management of Social Order and local authorities from But Son, performed a routine check at H2 Lounge in But Son Town, Hoang Hoa District. They stopped four individuals from Hanoi, all of whom tested positive for drug use. The subsequent search at their residence revealed a cylinder of 2.2 kg of N2O and various drug paraphernalia.
Progressing with their inquiry, Thanh Hoa police collaborated with the Ministry of Public Security’s specialized divisions, alongside the Hanoi Police Drug Crime Investigation Department and the Vinh Phuc Provincial Police to apprehend Nguyen Phuong Tay (born 1985), a resident of Phu Xuan Commune, Binh Xuyen District in Vinh Phuc. Authorities seized 12 bags of crystal meth, 10 bags of ketamine, approximately 500 meth tablets, 120 pills of ecstasy, one bag of heroin, and five containers of liquid narcotics during the operation.
In an apartment situated in Quang Trung Ward, Ha Dong District, Hanoi, officials discovered five individuals believed to be orchestrating illegal drug activities. They confiscated 20 ecstasy pills, 10 packages of ketamine, and a full set of drug usage implements.
Additionally, Thanh Hoa police partnered with law enforcement from Hanoi, Hai Phong, and other relevant regions to execute a unified raid on three rented facilities identified as places where the suspects were producing N2O.
Authorities confiscated the entire production setup, including machinery and bottling equipment for N2O, along with 177 compressed nitrous oxide cylinders, each holding around 30 kg (totaling roughly 5.25 tons), 27 empty cylinders, about 130 kg of raw materials, and various documents related to production processes and equipment operation.
A warehouse, located approximately 500 meters from the manufacturing site, contained around 12 tons of further raw materials intended for the production of laughing gas.
This operation was overseen by Luong Thai Linh, with partners Nguyen Ngoc Binh (born 1992) from Bich Hoa Commune, Thanh Oai District, Hanoi, and To The Minh Tri (born 1993) from Dong Van Commune, Yen Lac District, Vinh Phuc. The trio collaborated to obtain the necessary equipment, machinery, and supplies to independently produce the gas.
As of now, Thanh Hoa police have laid criminal charges, apprehended, and detained 11 suspects to investigate potential offenses including “facilitating illegal drug use,” “illegal drug trafficking,” and “manufacturing and distributing banned goods.”
