According to law enforcement officials, four Vietnamese nationals aged 14-41 and one Thai national aged 37 were part of a “criminal enterprise responsible for importing bulk quantities of heroin and synthetic drugs across the Laos border into Vietnam.

“During the course of the arrests in the Laos province of Bolykhamxay on the morning of January 3, agents seized 91 heroin cakes and 35,800 capsules of synthetic drugs,” a police official said.

The official said they also recovered other unidentified weapons, currency and four vehicles involved in the operation.

The arrests were the result of a joint investigation by both Vietnam and Laos police and other immigration and customs enforcement departments. All five face charges of trafficking and conspiracy to distribute.

Today, we crippled a transnational criminal organization said the official, and we will remain focused on removing those who supply narcotics to the violent distribution networks threatening our communities.