The drugs, which included MDMA, cannabis and ketamine, were found among 16 cartons sent to HCMC from the U.S., Germany and Canada, according to the HCMC Customs Department, Vietnam Customs and HCMC police.

The drugs were vacuum-sealed and wrapped in aluminium foil to prevent detection by scanners and sniffer dogs, they said.

Criminals were still sending drugs via online shipment so they can could track the shipping process, an old trick, HCMC customs officials said.

The addresses on the parcels were fake, so even if the drugs were found by authorities, there would be no way to trace back the drugs to them, they added, without elaborating.

The case is being investigated further.