100 police officers bust armed drug trafficking gang at Vietnam-Cambodia border

The operation led to the arrest of Dang Thanh Tuan, 44, identified as the gang’s leader, allegedly for illegal drug transportation. Pham Van Tien, 36, along with five other accomplices, was also detained.

The police had previously uncovered a major drug trafficking route originating from Cambodia to Vietnam. In response, they collaborated with the Ministry of Public Security’s Investigation Police Department on Drug-related Crimes to form a specialized unit tasked with dismantling the network.

Following surveillance, the police officers, divided into five groups, encircled and raided a site on Road number 9 in the Hiep Long neighborhood of Tay Ninh’s Hoa Thanh town. They apprehended Tuan and Tien as they were caught unloading drugs from a car.

The seizure included military firearms, 11 bullets, and two cars. Authorities continued operations at several other locations following the raid, resulting in the arrest of the five accomplices.

Police examine and seize evidence from a drug trafficking operation in Tay Ninh Province on Nov. 16, 2024. Photo by Read/Ha Thuy

Investigations revealed that in July, Tuan and Tien connected with an unknown individual in Cambodia through Telegram, who contracted them to transport drugs from the Cambodia-Vietnam border to various locations within Vietnam, paying US$800 per kilogram for shipments ranging from 20 to 40 kilograms.

After receiving the drugs, the duo would transport them by car to Tan Chau District in Tay Ninh, where the narcotics were divided into packages ranging from one to five kilograms. These were then distributed by shippers to Ho Chi Minh City and the neighboring provinces of Dong Nai and Binh Duong, among others.

During these operations, Tien and Tuan employed several individuals to guard the shipments, arming them with military firearms for protection.

The investigation into the case continues to expand.

Hundreds of police officers rounded up the armed drug gang