The arrests came after over 100 police officers simultaneously raided dozens of places in HCMC's Districts 1, Binh Thanh and Thu Duc and neighboring provinces of Binh Duong and Tay Ninh, seizing over 100 kg of various types of drugs including heroin, methaphamine and other synthetic drugs, a top police officer told VnExpress.

Police are expanding their investigation.

HCMC has been a transit hub for drugs trafficked from the Golden Triangle, police have reported. From here, the drugs are taken to Taiwan, the Philippines, Malaysia, South Korea and even Europe, Australia and Latin America.

Vietnam has some of the world’s toughest drug laws. Those convicted of possessing or smuggling more than 600 g of heroin or over 2.5 kg of methamphetamine face death.