Starting in October 2024, the Cybercrime Investigation Agency (C04) detected a group called “Fragrant Fairy. Specialty Scents” openly selling cannabis on Telegram, with thousands of members. Initial signs indicated a large-scale, transnational cannabis trafficking ring, organized and operated from outside Vietnam. On October 25, 2024, C04 launched a covert operation.
Investigations revealed that since Thailand legalized cannabis cultivation, some Vietnamese nationals invested in cannabis farms there, processing and vacuum-sealing the product. It was then disguised as dried food, herbal tea, red dates, or agarwood, transported by land through Cambodia and Laos into Vietnam.
Cannabis trafficking suspects arrested by authorities.
In Vietnam, cannabis was distributed across hubs in Ho Chi Minh City, Dong Nai, Hanoi, and Bac Giang, then to sub-distributors. C04 identified Dang Su Hoa, operating from abroad, as the ringleader.
Seized evidence inspected by authorities.
The syndicate employed sophisticated tactics: using Telegram for ads, foreign IP addresses, self-destructing messages, unregistered phones, and aliases. Transactions were conducted anonymously online via untraceable wallets or cryptocurrency.
Thai suppliers provided shipment details directly to Vietnamese warehouses, bypassing intermediaries. Warehouse applicants had to submit ID verification videos. Approved candidates received funding for setup and encrypted communication devices.
Cannabis was concealed in food products to mask its odor. Exchanges occurred at night in remote locations. C04 collaborated internationally, sending teams to Thailand for evidence gathering.
Confiscated contraband.
The operation unfolded in three phases: Phase 1 (Nov 15, 2024) netted 15 bales and 550kg cannabis; Phase 2 (Mar 12, 2025) seized 211kg and 3kg oil; Phase 3 (Oct 4, 2025) recovered 276kg, vehicles, and electronics. Total: 1 ton cannabis, 26 arrests.
This case highlights the evolution of drug trafficking—high-tech, borderless operations. C04 continues to expand investigations under the Ministry of Public Security’s oversight.
“Drug Kingpin” Smuggling Tons of Narcotics into Vietnam Uses GPS Tracking to Facilitate Pickup and Distribution
According to police reports, hundreds of kilograms of narcotics were concealed in remote locations. The smugglers then transmitted GPS coordinates and images to recipients, facilitating the subsequent distribution and sale of the illicit substances.
