Commune chairman leads transnational drug trafficking ring

On January 10, Mr. Vu, 41 years old, residing in Na Ngoi commune, Ky Son district and Le Hoang Cuong, 35 years old, residing in Hanoi, were being detained by Vinh City Police to investigate the act of Illegally transporting drugs, according to Article 250 of the Penal Code.

Vu has been the Chairman of the People's Committee of Na Ngoi Commune, Ky Son border district, for two years. Before that, he had worked for decades as an officer of the Party Committee's Inspection Committee and Vice Chairman.

Na Ngoi is a border commune, located in a particularly difficult area of ​​Ky Son district. The population is mainly Mong people, the terrain is all mountainous, and the roads are complicated.

According to the investigation agency, over the past several months, under the guise of a local official, Vu took advantage of his familiarity with the area to collude with many foreigners to buy drugs and transport them into the country through unofficial channels. Le Hoang Cuong was an important link in the chain, assisting Vu in transporting the "goods" to deliver to his partners.

The activities of the ring led by Vu were discovered by Vinh City Police in early January. At around 1:00 a.m. on January 9, when they discovered Vu driving a pickup truck carrying a sack of drugs from Ky Son district to Vinh City to deliver to a partner, detectives divided into many groups to follow him.

At 7:00 a.m. the same day, on National Highway 46, through Hung Chinh Commune, Vinh City, a task force of dozens of armed officers overtook Mr. Vu and asked him to stop his vehicle for inspection.

Authorities allege that Mr. Vu disobeyed orders and tried to flee by car, but was surrounded. The detectives fired several shots into the air and opened the door to control him.

Searching the vehicle, the authorities seized 35 kg of synthetic drugs and 4 heroin cakes hidden in many locations, disguised in dry tea bags and nylon bags.

At the same time, another task force ambushed and arrested Cuong in Cua Nam ward, Vinh city, while he was buying, selling, and transporting drugs.

If the above drug shipment had been successfully transported, it would have been worth billions of dong.

The leader of Na Ngoi commune said that he is preparing a report to ask for the opinion of the People's Committee of Ky Son district to appoint someone to run the work instead of the commune chairman who was just arrested. According to this person, during his work, Mr. Vu often showed himself to be a capable, brave, and responsible official, always completing all tasks well, without revealing any signs of irregularities.

"Just being arrested for drugs surprised many people," said the leader of Na Ngoi commune.

Ky Son district is completing procedures to decide to suspend Mr. Vu from work.

The case is under further investigation.

Previously, in mid-December 2024, Mr. Mua Dua Thai, 55 years old, former Party Secretary and Chairman of Na Ngoi Commune, was arrested by Vinh City Police for trafficking more than 28,000 synthetic drug pills across the country with three accomplices.