Synthetic drugs seized by Hanoi Customs and Hanoi Police in early 2023. Photo: Ngoc Linh.

The General Department of Customs said the trafficking and illegal cross-border transportation of narcotics and precursors are still very complicated and potentially dangerous, especially at land border gates, air and sea.

The subjects took advantage of this form to illegally transport and buy and sell narcotics across the border to Vietnam to transit to other countries for consumption.

The tricks to hide drugs are also very sophisticated and diverse such as the drug being disguised in candy packages, supplementary foods, dog and cat food and cosmetics.

Regarding the results of the anti-drug work, in February (January 16 - February 15), the General Department of Customs presided over and coordinated with the Police and Border Guard to handle eight cases and arrested seven suspects, of which the customs chaired three cases.

Exhibits obtained include 2.6kg of heroin; 5kg of cocaine; 0.1kg of ketamine; 3.8kg of Methamphetamine; and 101.3 kg of other drugs.

From the beginning of the year to February 15, the Customs sector presided over and coordinated with the Police and Border Guard to handle 31 cases and arrested 38 suspects, of which the Customs took the lead in 17 cases.

Exhibits obtained include 23.5 kg of heroin; 4.5 kg of cannabis; 65.7 kg of ketamine; 5kg of cocaine; 11.3 kg of methamphetamine; 104.8 kg and 6,100 pills of other drugs.