The thrilling story of the Tuong Duong police breaking up a 'huge' drug case

(Baonghean.vn) - To capture Xong Ba Tenh and seize 20 heroin cakes weighing about 7,300 grams, detectives had to lie in wait for many days, using many professional measures, stopping the possibility of transporting drugs downstream.

Recalling the time participating in Project 1517M to arrest cross-border drug trafficker Xong Ba Tenh, Lieutenant Colonel Tran Van Minh - Captain of the Criminal Investigation Team for Crime Prevention, Economic Crimes, and Drugs, Tuong Duong District Police still has not forgotten the reckless and daring tricks of this notorious drug trafficker in Western Nghe An.

According to Lieutenant Colonel Minh, Xong Ba Tenh was like a "forest ghost". He knew the terrain well and knew every mountain and stream by heart, so it was very easy for him to travel between Laos and Vietnam. He had relatives in Laos, so every month he went to Laos a few times, "conveniently" bringing drugs back to Vietnam to trade for profit.

Subject Xong Ba Tenh with evidence at Tuong Duong District Police. Photo: Document

Xong Ba Tenh has a permanent residence in Buoc Mu village, Na Ngoi commune, Ky Son district, but when the detectives investigated and grasped the situation of his movements here, it was not easy. Partly because he appeared and disappeared, not staying in a fixed place, partly because he had many relatives here, so they did not reveal his identity.

During the investigation, the detectives learned that Xong Ba Tenh's drug consumption route was from Laos through the border communes of Ky Son district, using Tuong Duong as a transit point and then transporting it downstream. The amount of drugs he transported was often large. This subject also had a bad personal history, his cousin had been sentenced to life in prison in Laos.

Determined to arrest Xong Ba Tenh at all costs, to cut off the major links in the cross-border drug trafficking and consumption ring, Tuong Duong district police established a special project codenamed 1517M to fight and destroy it.

However, this notorious drug dealer also has many reckless and sophisticated tricks. He often changes his time and route, and even carries many clothes to disguise himself, making the capture process difficult. More dangerously, he is very vigilant, equipped with hot weapons to fight back.

After more than 2 months of investigation and surveillance, on the morning of July 13, the detectives learned that Xong Ba Tenh would bring drugs from Ky Son through Luu Kien commune (Tuong Duong district) to National Highway 7 to sell downstream. Seeing the right opportunity, the Task Force led by Comrade Tran Phuc Tu - Head of the district police decided to deploy forces to surround and arrest him.

Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Xuan Duong awarded the project team 1517M. Photo: Archive.

Like other times, Xong Ba Tenh used many means of transport to sell the drugs successfully, avoiding the eyes of the authorities. The detectives used synchronous professional measures, coordinated with the traffic police to block all roads, and arranged for filming and recording as evidence.

When approaching Khe Kien intersection in Luu Kien commune, the suspect was arrested by detectives, caught red-handed carrying 20 heroin cakes weighing about 7,300 grams.

Immediately afterwards, Tuong Duong District Police completed the file to hand over the suspect and evidence to the Drug Crime Investigation Police Department of Nghe An Province Police for further investigation. This is the largest drug case ever successfully busted by Tuong Duong District Police.

Phuong Thao