HANOI: Five men were arrested in Vietnam for allegedly attempting to smuggle US$2.5 million worth of heroin into China after police shot at their drug-packed vehicle as they tried to flee, local media reported Monday. The men were caught in northern Cao Bang province on the border with China with nearly 100 kilograms (220 pounds) of heroin from Laos in their truck, state-run Thanh Nien newspaper reported. Photos on state media showed the alleged ringleader, 31-year-old Tran Van Bang, standing with a large pile of heroin bricks. The bust follows a similar seizure last month in northern Vietnam, where police confiscated 170 kilograms of heroin worth US$3 million also from Laos, reportedly the largest-ever drug haul in the one-party state. Anyone caught with more than 600 grams (21 ounces) of heroin or more than 20 kilograms of opium could face the death penalty.

Source: New Strait Times February 26, 2018 06:11 UTC