“Drug Kingpin” Smuggling Tons of Narcotics into Vietnam Uses GPS Tracking to Facilitate Pickup and Distribution

On November 20, the Drug Crime Investigation Police Department (C04, Ministry of Public Security) released details about case 825P, indicting 13 suspects and seizing 777 kg of narcotics.

According to C04, in early July, the department detected suspicious activities involving Tran Quoc Huy (25) and Duong Cao Huy (26, both from Hanoi). Simultaneously, the Drug and Crime Prevention Department of the Border Guard (Ministry of National Defense) uncovered a drug trafficking network from Laos to Vietnam, led by Tran Duc Thanh (42, from Nghe An) and Chu Anh Tuan (43, from Phu Tho), directly linked to the aforementioned group.

Recognizing this as a large-scale, transnational drug ring with sophisticated operations, the two agencies established a joint investigation under case number 825P, determined to dismantle this highly dangerous network.

During the investigation, authorities found that the suspects employed highly sophisticated methods. The mastermind, a fugitive abroad, coordinated activities using encrypted apps like Telegram and Signal, with aliases and no direct meetings. Drugs were hidden in remote locations, and GPS coordinates and photos were sent to recipients, making tracking extremely challenging.

Investigations revealed that during a trip abroad, Chu Anh Tuan met Long, a wanted fugitive. Long hired Tuan as a drug courier in Vietnam for 3 million VND per kilogram, which Tuan accepted.

In May, after discussions, Long’s associates delivered 300 kg of drugs to Tuan at Sim Garden Stadium (Binh Nguyen Commune, Phu Tho Province).

Tuan stored the drugs at his aunt Nguyen Thi Cuc’s house in Cho Canh Village, Binh Nguyen Commune. From there, the drugs were distributed in smaller quantities under Long’s instructions.

Tuan and Cuc repeatedly transported the drugs to an abandoned house near Dong Ma Cemetery in Binh Nguyen Commune, sending GPS coordinates and photos of the hiding spot to Long.

To avoid detection, Long instructed Nguyen Van Thai (31, from Bac Ninh) and Trinh Thi Kieu (25, from Thanh Hoa) to retrieve the drugs, ranging from 2 to 24 kg per trip. Within two months, the 300 kg of drugs were completely distributed.

In early August, Tran Duc Thanh agreed to transport 930 kg of synthetic drugs to Hanoi for $250,000 from a Laotian national. Thanh hired Pham Van Dung (54, from Hai Phong), a truck driver, to transport 49 bags of drugs to Vietnam.

On August 17, Dung delivered the 930 kg of drugs to Tuan at Sim Garden Stadium, who then stored them at his aunt’s house.

Using similar tactics, from August 18 to September 17, the group successfully distributed over 200 kg of drugs across multiple provinces, including several shipments to southern regions.

At 9:30 PM on September 21, C04 and the Drug and Crime Prevention Department, in collaboration with local authorities, executed case 825P, arresting Tuan, Kieu, Cuc, and Hoang Van Sang (Cuc’s husband), and seizing 706 kg of synthetic drugs, a vacuum sealer, and related documents.

Simultaneously, 10 task forces in various provinces arrested 11 other suspects, confiscating an additional 70 kg of synthetic drugs. These individuals were key distributors for Long, who resold the drugs for profit.

During the investigation, authorities identified Long as Tran Van Quyet (40, from Ho Chi Minh City), wanted by Ho Chi Minh City Police for illegal drug trafficking. While evading arrest in the Golden Triangle, Quyet collaborated with Vietnamese expatriates to establish major drug trafficking routes from the Golden Triangle to Vietnam, including Tuan’s network.