Four men in custody after another drug bust in Bokeo

Four men in police custody together with the huge stash of crystal meth they were transporting through Bokeo province. - VT

VIENTIANE (Vientiane Times/Asia News Network): Police in Bokeo province arrested four men recently after they found them transporting 500kg of crystal meth through Tonpheung district.

The Lao Security newspaper reported that Tonpheung district police teamed up with the anti-narcotics police department of the Bokeo Provincial Police Command to intercept the group, who were carrying the drugs in three vehicles.

They stopped them on the road and found 16 containers filled with 500 packages of crystal meth. Police are interrogating the men in the hope of identifying others involved in the drug ring, as well as the source of the drugs.

This is second major consignment of drugs to be intercepted in Bokeo province this year, where nearly all of the drug seizures in Laos are made.

On Jan 16, police in Huayxai district seized 6 million amphetamine pills when a team from the district’s Police Command set up a checkpoint in Huayxainoy village.

They stopped a suspect pick-up truck and found 24 packages of amphetamine weighing 672kg hidden inside. The driver fled the scene and evaded arrest.

Specialised officers are working with associated parties to clamp down on drug trafficking, make arrests, and prosecute traffickers as a matter of urgency.