HCM CITY: A drug trafficking network operating across multiple provinces in southern Vietnam and the Central Highlands has been dismantled after HCM City police arrested 140 suspects and seized more than nine kilogrammes of synthetic narcotics.
In the second quarter of 2026, through surveillance and intelligence-gathering operations, the Drug Crime Investigation Police Division (PC04) of HCM City Police identified a prominent suspect engaged in drug use and small-scale illegal drug trading across ward areas in Ben Cat, Thoi Hoa, Binh Duong, Thu Dau Mot, Phu Loi, Thuan Giao and An Phu.
The suspect was identified as Dang Phan Thanh Tung. Investigators traced multiple further links and persons of interest from Tung, and on that basis HCM City Police established special case file, coded VA0126D, with a view to dismantling the entire criminal network.
On April 15, 2026, Team Three of PC04 apprehended Tung while he was in the act of illegally transporting narcotics for distribution.
Continuing the investigation, police deployed multiple task teams simultaneously to pursue suspects identified as distribution nodes, retail dealers and drug users.
Starting from Tung as the initial lead, PC04 arrested three upstream suspects who had been supplying drugs to him and identified and took action against 12 downstream branches that had been buying drugs from him to organise illegal drug use and sell to individual addicts.
The investigation revealed that the suspects operated in a mobile, complex and inter-provincial manner across the southern region and the Central Highlands.
Acting on intelligence about a large-scale trafficking transaction, PC04 intercepted a suspect who was transporting more than five kilograms of narcotics from the Central Highlands into HCM City for distribution.
In total, PC04 arrested and processed 140 suspects – of whom 105 were prosecuted for offences including the illegal buying, selling, transporting, storing and organising of narcotics use, while 35 were sent for compulsory drug rehabilitation.
Seized items included more than nine kilograms of various synthetic drugs, 11 precision scales, 40 sets of drug-use paraphernalia, two motor vehicles, numerous motorbikes, more than 70 mobile phones and a range of documents and material evidence.
A number of suspects who served as lookouts, accomplices or concealers of criminal activity were also identified and dealt with in accordance with the law. — Vietnam News/ANN
