Dien Bien police, in collaboration with northern Lao provinces, have successfully dismantled a transnational drug trafficking network, seizing 68 bricks of synthetic narcotics in one of the region’s largest recent drug busts.

On June 9, authorities in Dien Bien province announced the takedown of a large-scale drug trafficking operation. The ring was allegedly led by Vu No Dinh (born 1985), a Vietnamese national who migrated and resides in Myanmar. Dinh is believed to be a key figure linking narcotic sources from the Golden Triangle into Laos before routing them into Vietnam.

The operation unfolded at 1 PM on June 8 in Don Sa At village, Pak Beng district, Oudomxay province, Laos. There, law enforcement caught Vang A Minh (born 1992, a native of Dien Bien) red-handed while transporting 67 bricks of synthetic drugs - marking one of the largest seizures along the Laos-Vietnam border in recent times.

Further investigation the same day led to another arrest in Phongsaly province, Laos. Authorities apprehended a man named Som Di (born 1982), a local resident, and confiscated 1 additional brick of synthetic drugs, an air gun, 100 rounds of ammunition, and various related materials.

According to police, both suspects confessed to being hired by Vu No Dinh to smuggle drugs from the Golden Triangle region to Phongsaly province for a fee of 40,000 Thai Baht (approximately USD 1,300). The entire communication process was carried out via social media - a common method among transnational criminal networks.

Dien Bien authorities are continuing their cooperation with northern Lao provinces to expand the investigation and track down remaining members of this extensive trafficking ring.

Tien Dung