Police nationwide are reporting an increasing number of arrests of drug traffickers as they intensify their efforts to curb the drug trade.
Heading the list of top ten busts this year was the seizure this month of over 100,000 amphetamine tablets, 2kg of opium, one brick of heroin and one small bag of crystal methamphetamine in Nhot-ou district, Phongsaly province. Police arrested Mr Khaechiem, 52, from Oudomsine village in Sing district, LuangNamtha province, who was transporting the drugs.
Second on the list, in November Bokeo police arrested Mr Maisengyord, 51, and his wife Ms Fong, 48, of Huaypheung village, Tonpheung district, after they found 12 kg of crystal methamphetamine and 42,000 amphetamine pills in their possession.
Third on the list, in October Khammuan police seized 30kg of cannabis and arrested Mr Kham-Aiew, 44, of Viengkham village, Pakkading district, Borikhamxay province.
In fourth place, 12 bricks of heroin were seized in August in LuangPrabang province. Police arrested MrYearthor, 28, of Chomchouk village and MrKuaha, 29, of Nalae village, both in Huayxai district, Bokeo province.
Fifth on the list, Oudomxay police in August discovered 60,000 amphetamine pills inside an unoccupied pickup truck and arrested MrChaiyang, 30, and MrXayngeunvang, 27, both of Nongbuadaeng village, Houn district.
Sixth, in August police seized over 2,000 amphetamine pills in Thakhaek district, Khammuan province and arrested MrSaengsavanh, 39, of Naheuang village, Khamkeuth district, Borikhamxay province and MrLertchai, 30, of Dongdamduan village, KaysonePhomvihane district, Savannakhet province.
Seventh on the list, in May, LuangNamtha police arrested two people from a neighbouring country and MrArtee, 28, from Chalernxay village in Long district, after finding 10kg of crystal methamphetamine.
In eighth place, in May Khammuan police seized 59,000 amphetamine pills and arrested MrTongkousong, 32, of Phonkham village, Phonhong district, Vientiane province.
Ninth, in April, following a crackdown LuangNamtha province, police seized 40 bags of precursor chemicals weighing 1,000kg and arrested three alleged drug traffickers from a neighbouring country.
Rounding out the top ten, in A pril Vientiane police seized 12,000 amphetamine pills and arrested Mr Souksavath, 38, of Naxamphan village, LuangPrabang district, LuangPrabang province; Mr Ounsaeng, 42, of Donxay village, Xay district, Oudomxay province; Mr Namnor, 42, of Naphork, village, Xaythany district, Vientiane; and Mr Khampheng, 48, of Nongmaengda village, Xay district, Oudomxay province.
Source: Vientiane Times
