Police arrested four cannabis dealers in Thaphabat district for possessing more than 1,600 kilograms of cannabis.
Police in Bolikhamxay stopped a truck at a checkpoint on Tuesday, and a search revealed 90 boxes of dried cannabis mixed with incense.
The four detained men told the police that they had loaded the truck in Pak Kading District and were headed to Vientiane Capital.
When they arrived at the police checkpoint in the Thaphabat District, the authorities stopped and asked to conduct an inspection.
Police are now investigating the four cannabis dealers in an effort to identify more members of the narcotics network.
According to Lao law No. 75 in Lao Official Gazette, the law states that those who possess 500 grams will be punished with life imprisonment and will be fined between LAK 100,000,000 to 200,000,000 (around USD 6,600 to USD 13,300).
While Laos is extremely strict about the sale and possession of cannabis, Thailand is aiming to become a hemp-production center, with the recent decriminalizing of cannabis use in the country. The country is expected to earn about USD 700,000 dollars in income over the next five years from hemp products.
