Arrests Made in Drug Trafficking Operation

On November 16, the Tay Ninh Police reported the initiation of criminal proceedings against Pham Van Tien (36) and Dang Thanh Tuan (44), both from Dong Nai Province, for illegal drug smuggling.

On the same day, about 100 law enforcement officers from the Tay Ninh Drug Crime Investigation Police, in coordination with the Ministry of Public Security and various specialized units, launched an operation that involved five teams to capture the suspects.

Tien and Tuan were apprehended while moving drugs from a vehicle into a residence located in an alley in Hiep Tan Ward, Hoa Thanh Town, Tay Ninh Province. The authorities seized nearly 60 kilograms of synthetic drugs along with other evidential materials.

Authorities also conducted searches at the suspects’ homes, uncovering a firearm and 11 bullets.

As a result of further inquiries, five more suspects connected to the trafficking operation were temporarily detained.

According to preliminary investigations, a suspect operating from Cambodia had been utilizing the Telegram app since July 2024 to recruit Tien and Tuan, offering $800 per kilogram to transport drugs into Vietnam.

Before the delivery in Vietnam, the arrangement involved transporting the drugs from Cambodia to the Tan Chau District border area in Tay Ninh Province.

The drugs were then sorted into smaller packages, weighing between 1 to 5 kilograms, and distributed to couriers heading to Ho Chi Minh City, Dong Nai, and Binh Duong provinces.

During the drug transport, the suspects were found to be armed and had hired individuals to monitor the area to evade detection.