Arrested after 19 years on the run from a warrant in Laos.

(Baonghean.vn) - On the morning of May 28, the Criminal Fugitive Apprehension Department (PC52 - Nghe An Provincial Police) announced that it had successfully cracked two cases, arresting two suspects involved in a drug trafficking ring that transported drugs from Laos to Vietnam after 19 years on the run.

In 1997, Luong Pho An (born in 1963) and Luong Bun Thi (born in 1975), both residing in Keng Du commune, Ky Son district, participated in a drug trafficking and transportation ring that was dismantled by the police. While An and Thi's accomplices were arrested, the two quickly fled to Laos and have been missing ever since.

The Investigation Department of the Nghe An Provincial Police has issued a nationwide arrest warrant for An and Thi for the crime of possessing and transporting narcotics.

Authorities escorted the two suspects (center) back to Vietnam on the evening of May 27th.

After gathering information and employing professional investigative techniques, the reconnaissance team determined that Luong Pho An and Luong Bun Thi were hiding in Co Du village, Hoi Long commune (Noong Het district, Xieng Khouang province, Laos), and immediately deployed forces to surround and arrest them.

On May 24th, a task force from the PC52 Department of the Nghe An Provincial Police set off for Laos. After many days of climbing mountains and crossing streams, they secretly monitored the movements of the two suspects. At approximately 8:10 AM on May 27th, when both suspects appeared, the special task force, in coordination with the Keng Du Border Guard Post (Nghe An Border Guard Command), other professional units of the Nghe An Provincial Police, and the Xieng Khouang Provincial Police (Laos), raided and arrested them.

At the time of their arrest, both still appeared naive and did not speak Vietnamese. However, faced with irrefutable evidence, they both confessed to their crimes. The suspects were extradited to Vietnam at 7:30 PM on May 27th and subsequently handed over to the Anti-Drug Crime Police Department for investigation within their jurisdiction.

Nguyen Hung