The cunning man changed the drug delivery location 3 times to "trick" the police.

The man has a criminal record.

Through the investigation of previous drug cases, it was discovered that Xong Xai Ho (born in 1957) specialized in supplying drugs from Laos to Que Phong. Each transaction involved a mountainous, remote area and involved many people.

Subject Xong Xai Ho. Photo: Thuy Hang

After receiving the above information, the unit's leaders assigned detectives to verify the source of information. Through the process of collecting evidence and verifying, it was found that the signs were sufficient and especially the subject Xong Xai Ho also had a criminal record for drug trafficking. In early March 2018, a project coded 318D was established to fight and capture.

Referring to the subject Xong Xai Ho, the detectives said that this subject has many tricks and is cunning, because during the investigation and verification process, it was found that Ho always chooses remote and deserted mountainous areas to carry out transactions such as the mountainous areas bordering Chau Thon, Quang Phong and Cam Muon; second is the Muong Mun village area and third is the Huoi Do mountain forest area.

In addition, in the transactions, Ho had to see with his own eyes that the money was complete before delivering the goods to the customer. The subject also constantly moved and changed the location of the transactions to deal with the authorities.

Receiving information that the subject would carry a firearm and exchange drugs at around 6:00 p.m. on March 16, 2018, at the edge of the forest in Lien Minh village, Chau Kim commune. The detectives in the task force held a meeting and developed a plan to surround and arrest him under the direct direction of Lieutenant Colonel Dang Van Hieu - Deputy Chief of District Police, Deputy Chief of the Criminal Investigation Agency, Head of Task Force 318D.

Solved the case after 3 transaction cancellations and location changes

Xong Xai Ho is a cunning person, so he stalled for time, then canceled the transaction and made an appointment for the early morning of March 17 at the trail bordering Chau Kim commune and Nam Giai commune.

On the morning of March 17, after discovering Ho and a Mong person riding a motorbike to Kim Son town, the Project mobilized 4 working groups with 26 officers to participate in solving the case, one group continued to monitor the movements of the subjects, the other group was ready to lie in ambush at the transaction points.

Evidence of the case. Photo: Thuy Hang

As initially suspected, the subject would change the transaction location to bypass the authorities. At 9:00 a.m. the same day, Xong Xai Ho continued to cancel the transaction as planned at the old location and made an appointment to "deliver the goods" at the Que Phong Medical Center area.

Once again, Ho continued to change the location to Muong Noc commune. However, the scouts proactively hid their troops at the new transaction point.

At 11am, two subjects on a motorbike appeared at the transaction location. Ho did not bring any goods but only went in to look at the money. When he felt it was safe, Ho left his companion behind and went alone to the flea market area in block 8 of Kim Son town to get the drugs.

When Xong Xai Ho took the black bag containing drugs, a reconnaissance team promptly approached, knocked down, and arrested Xong Xai Ho.

After capturing the ringleader, a reconnaissance team at the transaction point arrested the accompanying Mong subject, Xong Ba Tong (born 1988), both residing in Muong Long village, Tri Le commune. The amount of drugs seized by the authorities was 3kg of crystal meth and 1,867 synthetic drug pills weighing 186.7 grams.

Lieutenant Colonel Vi Van Quang - Captain of the Criminal Police Team - Drug Economics, who led the task force directly to capture Xong Xai Ho, said: Normally, Ho always transacts at a deserted hilly place, but this time he chose a crowded place. This location is convenient for scouts to blend in, but it is also not safe for people, especially when the subject appeared during rush hour, when many people go to the market.

However, thanks to careful preparation and determination to arrest here, the Task Force decided to surround and arrest. When the detectives rushed in, the subject resisted, but with professional measures, everything happened very quickly, only in about 1-3 minutes, the subject was controlled and brought to a safe vehicle. Some nearby residents just thought it was a normal fight.

Que Phong District Party Secretary Lu Dinh Thi commended the investigation team. Photo: Hung Cuong.

Lieutenant Colonel Vi Van Giang - Head of Que Phong District Police said: Drug traffickers are currently very aggressive, sophisticated and often have hot weapons. Especially in Que Phong district, especially in the Tri Le Border area, the process of collecting information to verify and clarify the behavior of the subjects is very difficult because the Mong people have a high sense of community, living in remote areas, so when they see strangers coming in, they are very cautious; scouts do not understand the language, and if there is no phone signal, they will lose contact completely.

With the subject Xong Xai Ho, the detectives had to stay up many nights to monitor the subject, the subject also often changed his name when making transactions. The successful destruction of Project 318D created trust among the people in the police force, contributing to maintaining political security and social order in the area.