Many provinces around the country have launched a crackdown on illegal drugs this month, with a number of drug traffickers having been arrested.
The first case saw police from the Khammuan Drug Prevention and Control Department arrest two men and confiscate almost 4,000 amphetamine pills.
The men were named as Mr. Souksakhone, 24, of Phonsa-ath village, Kaysone Phomvihane district, and Mr. Ketmany, 22, of Sonmixay village, Xepon district, Savannakhet province.
The police arrested the pair as they were transporting amphetamines to waiting customers in Khamkhikai village, Thakhaek district, Khammuan province, and confiscated 3,993 tablets.
The second case occurred when officials from the Champassak Drug Prevention and Control Department stopped a pickup along a road in Xanasomboun district recently and confiscated 6,000 amphetamine pills, two small bags of crystal methamphetamine (ice) and a gun, and arrested two men and a woman.
They were named as Mr. Saengchan, 34, of Xok- amnouy village, Pakxe district, Mr. Vanxay, 38, of Phonngam village, Pakxe district, and Ms Mon, 24, of Xaysavang village, Bachiengchaleunsouk district, Champassak province.
During police investigations, they confessed that they had travelled from Champassak to Vientiane to collect the pills from a man in Donnoun village, Xaythany district.
On their return to Champassak, police stopped the pickup and found the 6,000 pills they had bought.
The last case was reported in Vientiane after police arrested two drug dealers in Khamchalern village, Hadxaifong district, and confiscated 2,447 amphetamine pills and 18 small bags of crystal methamphetamine in their possession.
The men were named as Mr. Sern, 35, of Khamchalern village, Hadxaifong district and Mr. Noukham, 29, of Xiengkhuan village, Hadxaifong district.
Mr. Noukham confessed to police that he had been taking amphetamines since 2012, which he bought from Mr. Sern. The police are continuing their investigations into all cases and trying to identify other people involved in the drug rings before sending the suspects to court.
In 2015, police solved 2,258 drug cases, and arrested 3,346 people including 90 foreigners. This was an increase of 600 cases compared to 2014, according to the Drug Control and Supervision Department.
Police also seized more than 6,330,000 amphetamine pills, 134 kg of heroin, 3,257 kg of dried cannabis, 176 kg of crystal methamphetamine (ice), 49. 81 kg of raw opium, 6,690 kg of chemical precursors, and 1,552 kg of unidentified powder.
Source: Vientiane Times
