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HANOI, July 7 (Xinhua) -- Vietnamese authorities have broken a drug ring that sent illicit substances into or from Vietnam via international post, seizing over 2.5 tons of leaves containing drugs.
Accordingly, a total of 199 packages weighing over 2.5 tons of Khat leaves containing Cathinone, classified by Vietnam as a narcotic drug, have been seized so far by Vietnam's capital Hanoi Customs Department and Drug Crime Investigation Police Department, reported Vietnam's state-run radio Voice of Vietnam (VOV) on Thursday.
First obtaining information on the ring in March 2016, competent agencies busted the first shipment with 36 packages weighing 545 kg declared to be dried tea or dried plants sent from Ethiopia to nine people on April 15.
The Criminal Science Institute under Vietnam's Ministry of Public Security found Cathinone in the goods.
The Hanoi Customs Department coordinated with the drug crime investigation department to establish a specialized team in May to crack down on the case.
From May 23 to June 28, the specialized team discovered more batches of goods sent from Singapore to Vietnam or from Vietnam to the United States, United Kingdom and Australia, all of which were found to contain Cathinone.
A drug investigator was quoted by VOV as saying this is a large-scale nationwide ring, noting that the culprits live in other countries and they only hire Vietnamese to receive or send the drugs.
