Thanh Hoa Province Police said on May 14 that officers had coordinated with police in Houaphanh Province to break up two illegal drug trafficking operations.
Authorities arrested four suspects and seized more than 23 kilogrammes of drugs and drug precursors, along with a gun.
The drugs and drug precursors seized by the investigation team (Photo: Thanh Hoa Police).
Initial investigations showed the suspects used passenger coaches and delivery drivers to transport narcotics from the Golden Triangle and from Vientiane into Houaphanh Province.
After being gathered in Laos, the drugs were allegedly smuggled into Vietnam for distribution and sale.
Investigators said the trafficking groups frequently changed their methods and routes to avoid detection by authorities.
In recognition of the operation, Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Van Long, Deputy Minister of Public Security, sent a letter of commendation to Thanh Hoa Province Police on May 13.
The letter praised officers for their responsibility, ingenuity, courage and effectiveness in international cooperation against transnational drug crime.
According to Thanh Hoa Province Police, joint operations with Houaphanh Province police since September 2025 have led to multiple investigations targeting cross border narcotics networks.
Authorities said they had clarified 14 cases and arrested 19 suspects linked to the illegal transport and sale of drugs from Laos into Thanh Hoa Province.