Authorities dismantled a massive drug trafficking ring operating in Laos.

(Baonghean.vn) - The success of Special Case 352LV, which resulted in the arrest of two suspects and the seizure of 36 blocks of heroin and 15,000 synthetic drug pills, marks a successful and effective collaboration between the functional forces of Nghe An and Hua Phan provinces. This further affirms the good relationship between Vietnam and Laos in the fight against drug trafficking, contributing to...Ensuring border security between the two countries.

The news that the anti-drug forces (Nghe An Border Guard Command) coordinated with the police forces of Hua Phan province (Laos) to successfully dismantle Special Case 352LV, thereby cutting off a drug trafficking and transportation ring from Laos to Vietnam, is bringing great joy to the people.

This achievement was the result of coordinated efforts between the authorities of Vietnam and Laos.

Reportedly, this is the largest-scale case in terms of the amount of seized evidence that the Nghe An Border Guard Force has successfully cracked to date. According to Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Cong Luc, Deputy Commander of the Nghe An Provincial Border Guard Command, in addition to the ingenuity and bravery of the anti-drug reconnaissance force, the success of the case was largely due to the coordination with the Hua Phan Provincial Police Force (Laos).

Previously, through intelligence gathering, the anti-drug forces of the Nghe An Border Guard Command learned that there were many drug trafficking rings transporting drugs from the provinces of Xieng Khouang, Hua Phan, and Bolikhamsai (Laos) to Que Phong and Thanh Chuong provinces for consumption. Lao nationals often crossed the border into the mountainous areas of the two aforementioned districts to supply drugs to addicts.

Among them, the most prominent was the drug ring led by Tho No Chu (40 years old, residing in Sam To district, Hua Phan province, Laos). Tho No Chu's ring had been operating for many years on a large scale and with extremely sophisticated methods. Tho No Chu specialized in buying drugs from Xieng Khouang, then transporting them to Hua Phan through Sam To and Muong Quan districts, and then further transporting them into Vietnam via unofficial routes to communes in Que Phong and Thanh Chuong districts for distribution.

After gathering information, the Nghe An Border Guard Command decided to establish a special task force to monitor and dismantle the operation. However, because the suspects were Laotians and mainly operated in Laos, the border guard forces decided to coordinate with the functional forces of Hua Phan province (Laos) to solve the case.

Based on an analysis of the actual situation and the content of the signed cooperation agreement on combating various types of crimes between the Nghe An Border Guard and the police of provinces sharing a common border, the Nghe An Border Guard proactively proposed to the Hua Phan Provincial Police to join forces in combating and dismantling this complex drug trafficking ring.

The two suspects, Tho No Chu and Tho Va Giong, have been handed over by the Provincial Border Guard Command to the Hua Phan Provincial Police (Laos).

In early January 2016, the Provincial Border Guard Command dispatched two officers, Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Van Luc (Deputy Commander of the Provincial Border Guard) and Mr. Ly Ba Thai (Head of the Anti-Drug and Crime Prevention Department), to Laos to discuss plans for cracking the case with the functional forces of Hua Phan province.

“When we went to discuss coordinating the investigation with the Deputy Director of the Huaphanh Provincial Police (Laos), we received strong support and agreement. After discussions, on January 23, 2016, the Provincial Border Guard Command and the Huaphanh Provincial Police agreed to establish a special case codenamed 352LV. Simultaneously, both sides established a joint steering committee and immediately deployed operational activities to monitor and track the activities of the suspects,” Lieutenant Colonel Luc stated.

Through intelligence gathering and reports from informants, it was determined that Thò Nỏ Chư was concealing a large quantity of drugs and preparing to transport them into Vietnam for sale. On April 5th, the joint task force of the two countries met and agreed on plan number 514 to dismantle the operation. On April 16th, the functional forces of the two provinces quickly implemented the plan. According to the plan, the Nghe An Border Guard deployed 18 officers and soldiers to cooperate with 15 officers and soldiers of the Hua Phan Provincial Police, divided into several teams to lie in ambush and monitor the movements of the suspect.

On the morning of April 17th, as the two suspects, Tho No Chu and Tho Va Giong, began their journey, law enforcement deployed their forces. At 11:30 AM, when Tho Va Giong reached a deserted location, about 10km from the center of Sam To district, to deliver the goods, law enforcement officers suddenly swooped in and apprehended him.

“Upon seeing the authorities, the suspect drove his motorbike towards our officers, but they managed to dodge it. Afterward, the suspect rammed his motorbike into the officers' car in an attempt to escape, but using professional tactics, we apprehended him. At the same time, another task force surrounded and arrested Thò Nỏ Chư in the center of Sam To district (Laos) as he was preparing to receive money,” Lieutenant Colonel Ly Ba Thai stated.

Comrade Le Xuan Dai presents awards to the 352LV Special Task Force.

Acknowledging the achievements of the special task force, Deputy Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Le Xuan Dai assessed that the operation achieved three major successes: discovering and seizing the largest quantity of drugs ever; ensuring absolute safety for the task force; and especially, coordinating seamlessly and effectively with the functional forces of neighboring Laos, specifically the police of Hua Phan province, in the fight against drug trafficking and trade, ensuring border security between the two countries.

At the awards ceremony, the Vice Chairman of the province emphasized that the situation of drug trafficking and transportation from the border into the province is currently extremely complex. Therefore, in addition to monitoring the situation and deploying forces, border guards need to coordinate more effectively with the functional forces of Laos to effectively combat the trafficking and transportation of narcotics. This will contribute to ensuring peace for the people, guaranteeing national security, and further strengthening the good traditional relationship between Vietnam and Laos.

Pham Bang