The journey to arrest two brothers in a large-scale transnational drug trafficking ring

Transnational drug ring

Implementing the direction of the Provincial Police leaders on the peak of attacking and suppressing crimes before, during and after the Lunar New Year of Giap Thin 2024, recently, Vinh City Police successfully broke up a special case, eliminated a transnational drug ring, arrested 02 subjects Thao A Cang (born in 1981) and Thao A Thong (born in 1991), both residing in Tan Lap commune, Moc Chau district, Son La province for illegal drug trafficking, and seized more than 10kg of drugs.

Previously, around the end of November 2023, through the work of grasping the situation, the Drug Crime Investigation Police Team of Vinh City Police discovered that the source of drug supply to a number of retail outlets in Vinh City was a subject residing in Son La province. After collecting information and documents, Vinh City Police built a portrait"boss" of drug ringThis is Thao A Thong.

Blinded by profit, Thao A Thong dragged Thao A Cang – his real brother – into the path of crime. These two subjects showed suspicious signs of colluding with foreigners to trade drugs in large quantities. After that, they transported drugs to Nghe An and other southern provinces and cities for distribution and consumption in order to make illegal profits.

Faced with the above situation, Vinh City Police reported to the provincial police leadership to establish a special project to concentrate maximum forces and means to fight and eradicate this drug ring as soon as possible.

To avoid being tracked by the authorities, Thao A Cang and Thao A Thong built a gentle and honest cover when they went to the fields every day to sow rice and grow corn. However, taking advantage of the times they went to the fields, the two brothers connected with people across the border to establish a transnational drug trafficking ring.

These subjects operate very discreetly, cautiously, and are highly vigilant in every action and every move, constantly changing their costumes, routes, means of transportation, time, and transaction locations, etc. to avoid detection by the authorities. With their sophisticated, cunning, and reckless methods and tricks, they have caused many difficulties for the authorities in the process of fighting and clarifying.

Lift the net

After a period of synchronous implementation of professional measures, on December 14, 2023, the Task Force received information that the subjects had taken a bus to Nghe An. The Task Force realized that the opportunity was ripe and decided to crack the case.

Immediately, an urgent meeting was held, proposing a plan to destroy the transnational drug trafficking ring. It was determined that the subject was very stubborn, reckless and could have a “hot weapon” on him, so a very important requirement set out in the plan was to ensure absolute safety for the forces participating in the investigation as well as the surrounding people.

At around 06:55 on December 15, when the passenger bus running on the Son La - Nghe An route showed many suspicious signs reaching Nghi Kim commune (Vinh city), the reconnaissance teams of the Special Task Force quickly approached, approached, and promptly controlled the two subjects. Although Thao A Cang and Thao A Thong fiercely fought back in an attempt to escape, with smooth coordination, intelligence, and bravery, Vinh City Police successfully arrested the two subjects, ensuring absolute safety for the functional forces as well as the surrounding people.

At the scene, the authorities seized 7 kg of crystal meth, 2 kg of ketamine, 2 heroin cakes and 12,000 synthetic drug pills.

At the investigation agency, Thao A Cang and Thao A Thong initially appeared stubborn and uncooperative, giving evasive statements in an attempt to deny their crimes. However, when presented with evidence and documents from investigators, both subjects admitted their crimes.

Currently, the case is being further investigated by the Vinh City Police Investigation Agency.