KON TUM: Authorities in Vietnam’s Central Highlands province of Kon Tum have arrested a man for allegedly transporting approximately 3 kilograms of drugs from Laos to Vietnam. The arrest occurred in Iec village, Po Y commune, Ngoc Hoi district, as reported by the province’s Border Guard Command on December 31.
According to Lao News Agency, the suspect, identified as Tran Thanh Tung from Quy Nhon city in Binh Dinh province, confessed to being hired to smuggle the white crystalline substance across the border. The job was purportedly assigned by a woman, and Tung was promised 15 million VND (approximately 590 USD) for the task.
This incident marks the largest drug seizure in Kon Tum for the year 2024, officials from the provincial Border Guard Command confirmed. The authorities are continuing their investigation into the smuggling operation.
The operation is part of a broader initiative by local authorities aimed at intensifying efforts to crack down on crime during the peak period surrounding the Lunar New Year holiday.