Hanoi Customs Department announced on July 1 that they had been informed about the ring following intelligence gathered through surveillance, and set up an investigation team on May 30.

"The investigation team specifically targeted a suspected drug trafficking ring smuggling MDMA, commonly known as Ecstasy, from Germany into Vietnam through Noi Bai International Airport," the department said. "On June 4, we arrested four suspects and seized approximately 179kg of Ecstasy. This was the largest seizure of its kind via air transport reported so far."

Last week, the police said legal proceedings were underway against 961 suspects accused of producing, trafficking, storing and using drugs following a year-long investigation into the case of flight attendants illegally transporting drugs from France to Tan Son Nhat International Airport.

The police announced that they have successfully broken up hundreds of drug trafficking rings in HCM City, Binh Duong Province and Dong Nai Province.