Local authorities had received a tip-off that a group of people planned to illegally enter Thanh Chuong District from Laos.

At around 5:30 p.m. Wednesday a border guard patrol in a forest near the border saw four people drop four bags before fleeing into Laos. Each bag contained around 25 kg of meth.

Authorities suspect the smugglers might be Laotian.

They are investigating.

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.

But they do not seem to be a deterrent, and drug busts and convictions are rising relentlessly.