While on the run from the police, he still set up a camp to traffic drugs.

(Baonghean.vn) - Despite being wanted by the police, La Van Phuc continued to organize drug trafficking while on the run, using very blatant and reckless methods.

The Con Cuong District Police are currently holding La Van Phuc (born in 1979, residing in Binh Chuan commune) in custody for investigation into drug trafficking. He was arrested on July 23rd by the Drug Crime Investigation Police Department (PC47) after being on the run for many years.

La Van Phuc is a long-time drug addict. Due to his close relationship with some Hmong (Lao) individuals, he frequently colludes to organize the illegal buying and selling of narcotics.

The suspect, La Van Phuc. Photo: Provided by the police.

Before being wanted by the police, he used his home as a transaction point and organized drug use sessions for addicts right there. La Van Phuc's drug dealing went on continuously for a long time, affecting public order and security in the area and causing great public outrage.

By the end of June 2016, the drug den led by La Van Phuc was dismantled by the Con Cuong District Police. To evade legal punishment, Phuc quickly fled the area.

After escaping, Phuc fled into the deep forest bordering Con Cuong and Tuong Duong districts, about 60 km from his home, and continued to set up a camp to organize drug trafficking on the summit of Pu Huot. There, Phuc connected with several Lao individuals to form a drug trafficking ring, transporting and selling large quantities of drugs from Laos to Vietnam for consumption.

After a period of investigation and unsuccessful pursuit, on October 13, 2016, the Con Cuong District Police issued an arrest warrant for La Van Phuc on charges of drug trafficking and harboring the illegal use of narcotics.

Identifying Phuc as a particularly dangerous wanted fugitive and a crucial link in the drug trafficking ring from Laos to Vietnam, the Drug Crime Investigation Police Department (PC47) developed a plan to arrest La Van Phuc.

"For months, the scouts stayed deep in the forest, lying in ambush around the Pù Huột mountain area to monitor all movements and the methods and tactics of the suspects," said Captain Nguyen Manh Truong, Deputy Head of Team 3, PC47 Department.

On July 22, 2017, intelligence reports indicated that La Van Phuc was preparing to return from his home to his camp on the summit of Pu Huot mountain that night. Immediately, a task force was ordered to assemble and set up an ambush at the summit of Pu Huot mountain, waiting for the opportunity to apprehend the suspect upon his appearance.

At this time, it was raining heavily, and the summit of Pu Huot was desolate and dark. Meanwhile, in this mountainous area, which is mainly inhabited by ethnic minorities, the soldiers were all Kinh people, so if they weren't careful, they could easily be exposed.

Persistently monitoring from the evening of July 22nd to 4:00 AM on July 23rd, the task force spotted La Van Phuc and another suspect riding a motorbike up the slope of Pu Huot. Determining the time was ripe for the raid, the detectives rushed out to intercept the vehicle, attempting to tighten the encirclement. At this point, La Van Phuc rammed his motorbike into the task force and sped away, forcing the detectives to pursue him.

During the arrest, La Van Phuc fiercely resisted, reaching into his clothes to pull out a knife to fight back against the police. However, the detectives managed to disarm him and subdue him in time.

At the police station, Phuc admitted to all of his illegal acts. PC47 has now handed the suspect over to the Con Cuong District Police for further investigation and processing according to their jurisdiction.

Hang Nga