Arrested subject digging hole on high hill to hide drugs

On November 16, Que Phong District Police (Nghe An) said that, implementing the order of the Director of Nghe An Provincial Police to launch a campaign to suppress crime, ensure security and order before, during and after the Lunar New Year of Quy Mao 2023, on November 14 and 15, 2022, Que Phong District Police consecutively arrested 3 cases and 4 subjects for drug crimes.

Subjects Lo Van Toan, Phan Van Thien - Toan's customers. Photo: Hong Ngoc

Among them, there is the subject Lo Van Toan (nickname Toan "do", born in 1978, residing in Thanh Phong 2 village, Muong Noc commune, Que Phong district). This is a very dangerous subject, a severe drug addict, with 2 previous convictions for drug crimes, the most recent of which was in 2018. Not long after his release from prison, Toan was lured and enticed into relapse by bad elements. Due to his poor family circumstances, being lazy to work, and running out of money to buy drugs, he connected himself and found sources of goods across the border to both use and sell for profit. When Nghe An police deployed the Project to Build a "Border Commune Clean of Drugs", many drug dealers were arrested, Toan hid in remote areas on the border waiting for the opportunity to operate.

On the evening of November 14, 2022, Que Phong District Police arrested Phan Van Thien (born in 1990), residing in Minh Tien village, Minh Tien commune, Quy Chau district, Nghe An province, for illegally storing drugs and seized 3.61 grams of heroin. Thien is a regular customer of Toan.

Authorities searched Toan's house; Toan used a ladder to climb the hill to get "goods" for trading. Photo: Hong Ngoc

Through the fight with Phan Van Thien, combining the collected documents and evidence, on November 15, 2022, the Investigation Police Department, Que Phong District Police conducted a search and emergency arrest of Lo Van Toan for the act of "Illegal drug trafficking". Searching his residence, the authorities seized 35 pink pills, 0.87 grams of heroin, some cash and a mobile phone.

It is worth mentioning that Lo Van Toan's method was quite sophisticated. Taking advantage of the mountainous terrain, Toan did not hide the drugs in the house, but dug a hole on a high hill behind the house to bury the drugs. When there was a customer to buy the "goods", Toan used a ladder to climb up the hill to get the drugs to trade.

The successful arrest of Lo Van Toan received the support of local people, thereby eliminatingdrug retail outletcomplex in the area.

Also on November 15, 2022, after the launching ceremony, Tien Phong Commune Police and Que Phong District Police arrested 2 cases, 2 subjects for drug crimes, and seized 27.9 grams of heroin.

Subjects Lu Van Luan and Hoang Van Tieu. Photo: Hong Ngoc

Specifically: Tien Phong Commune Police caught Hoang Van Tieu (born 2000, residing in Mun village, Chau Nga commune, Quy Chau district, Nghe An province) red-handed for "Illegal possession of drugs", seizing 3.4 grams of heroin.

The Criminal - Economic - Drug Police Team, Que Phong District Police caught Lu Van Luan (born in 1986, residing in Thanh Phong 2 village, Muong Noc commune, Que Phong district) red-handed for the act of "Illegal possession of drugs", seizing 24.59 grams of heroin.

The above outstanding achievements affirm the high determination of Que Phong District Police in particular, Nghe An Police in general in implementing the Project of Building "Border Communes Clean of Drugs", towards building "Border Districts Clean of Drugs". Thereby, ensuring a "drug-free" environment in each hamlet and village so that people can feel secure in working, producing, and developing the economy - culture - society.