PHNOM PENH: Lao police seized 521kg of methamphetamine from a private jet reported to have arrived from Malaysia at Luang Prabang International Airport, with 13 people detained.
The Vientiane Times, citing the Lao Security News, reported that a security operation took place last Thursday following a tip-off received by provincial police on Sept 21 that a drug trafficking syndicate was allegedly planning to smuggle narcotics using a private aircraft.
Police later learnt that the flight schedule had been changed, with the private aircraft due to arrive from Malaysia at Luang Prabang International Airport at 1.30pm that day.
Provincial public security authorities then instructed specialised units to monitor the situation, reported Bernama.
Officers subsequently found 23 suitcases and seized 500 packs of methamphetamine weighing 521kg, along with the private aircraft and a pickup truck as evidence, according to the report.
“Twenty-one of the 23 suitcases contained white crystalline substances that were identified as crystal methamphetamine,” the report said.
Police detained 13 people during the operation, namely the pilot, co-pilot, a foreign tourist, three employees of a company and seven airport employees.
