Special project HC421 is the project with the largest number of synthetic drugs transported from Europe to Vietnam via air.

Exhibits in the case. Photo: N.L

At the beginning of April, the Drug-related crime investigation Police Department obtained information about a line of selling and transporting drugs in large quantities from Europe via airway to Vietnam.

Conducting verification, the Drug-related crime investigation Police Department identified that the subject hid drugs among goods and sent to Vietnam. One of the recipients was Phan Huu Thanh (born in 1991 in Chi Linh, Hai Duong). Thanh has an extensive criminal record.

At the same time, the Hanoi Customs force discovered a shipment with 36 packages weighing more than 400kg sent from Amsterdam - the Netherlands via air to Noi Bai. The information on the parcel showed an address of consignees at Hai Duong, Hanoi, Binh Duong and HCM City.

There was information of a subject with the same information with the one of the Drug-related crime investigation Police Department. Authorities suspected there were 13 packages containing drugs.

Determining this was a line of trading and transporting drugs with large quantity, including many objects, involving many localities, the Drug-related crime investigation Police Department and Hanoi Customs Department established a special project with secret number HC421.

Simultaneously, assigning the scouting of Division 7, Drug-related crime investigation Police Department, Noi Bai International Airport Customs Branch, and the Anti-Drug Enforcement Team of Hanoi Customs Department gathering forces, vehicles and synchronously apply professional measures to clarify the line.

The tricks of the subjects were taking fake names, addresses and using garbage sims to deliver drugs. Therefore, if they detect the delivery is abnormal, the subjects are ready to give up and not accept the parcel.

The important requirement for the project was to develop a detailed plan and avoid "pulling a vine and shaking the woods". From the time of receiving information to the time of solving the case, there are only 48 hours, so the specialised committee had to work day and night. The special project consisted of two phases.

One of 16 subjects and exhibits in the special project. Photo: N.L

Phase one, on the afternoon of April 9, 2021, in Hanoi, the committee caught Nguyen Huy Hong (born in 1988, residing in Hoai Duc, Hanoi) and Le Thi Thoa (born in 1997, residing in Tan Son, Phu Tho), seised 12.7 kg of drugs.

In Hai Duong, Hoang Huu Thanh was caught and seized 8.8 kg of synthetic drugs. Through fighting, Thanh claimed that he still had 5 packages, including four packages containing drugs being transported from Germany to Vietnam, in four packages containing 27 kg of drugs.

In the second phase, six working groups simultaneously arrested the subjects in Binh Duong and HCM City.

On April 13, in Binh Duong, the Specialised Committee caught Dang Van Vang (born in 1996; residing in Yen Thanh, Nghe An) while he was receiving a parcel inside containing 4.1kg drugs and Nguyen Duy Thuong (born in 1999; living in Loc Ninh, Binh Phuoc) while he was receiving a package containing 5 kg of drugs.

At points in HCM City, the Specialised Committee caught Lam Tai (was born in 1972; resident in District 5, HCM City) seised 15.6 kg of drugs. Tran Manh Tien (was born in 1991; resident in Nam Dinh) while he was receiving 2 parcels of 24 kg of drugs. Nguyen Phan Hiep (was born in 1980) with a box containing 9 kg of synthetic drugs. Nguyen Quynh Duc (was born in 1999, residing in Gia Lai) and seized 4.5kg of drugs.

Expanding the investigation and examination of the residence of Le Minh Hoang (born in 1992, residing in District 8, HCM City), the competent force seized 2.6 kg of drugs. Combined with collected documents and evidence, the Police Investigation Agency (C04) issued an order to arrest people for eight other subjects.

Up to now, the Drug-related crime Investigation Police Department has prosecuted eight cases, prosecuted 16 subjects, seized 127 kg of all kinds of drugs and many related exhibits. This is the project with the largest number of synthetic drugs transported from Europe to Vietnam via air.