Heroin

Lao Nationals Sentenced to Life in Vietnam in Major Drug Smuggling Case

A municipal court in Vietnam sentenced four Lao nationals to life in prison and one to 20 years on 20 April after convicting them of smuggling more than 143 kilograms of narcotics into Vietnam, according to Vietnamese media. The People’s Court of Ho Chi Minh City found Thongchaleun Youkhanthone, 27,...

Drug Crimes Lead 2025 Crime Statistics Despite Overall Decline

Drug-related offences remained the most common crime in Laos in 2025, with authorities recording...

Authorities Intensify Crackdown on Illegal Opium Poppy Cultivation in Northern Laos

Lao authorities have stepped up enforcement against illegal opium poppy cultivation in northern Laos,...

Authorities Step Up Crackdown as Drug Smuggling Cases Surface Across Laos

Lao authorities have intercepted several major drug trafficking operations since the start of 2026,...

Laos Processes 21,003 Drug Cases, Arrests 31,289 Suspects Since 2021

Laos has made progress in its fight against drugs, with 21,003 cases handled and...

Lao Nationals Sentenced to Life in Vietnam in Major Drug Smuggling Case

A municipal court in Vietnam sentenced four Lao nationals to life in prison and one to 20 years on 20 April after convicting them...

Drug Crimes Lead 2025 Crime Statistics Despite Overall Decline

Drug-related offences remained the most common crime in Laos in 2025, with authorities recording 3,660 cases nationwide, according to the Ministry of Public Security. Police...

Authorities Intensify Crackdown on Illegal Opium Poppy Cultivation in Northern Laos

Lao authorities have stepped up enforcement against illegal opium poppy cultivation in northern Laos, destroying more than 13 hectares of illicit crops in early...

Authorities Step Up Crackdown as Drug Smuggling Cases Surface Across Laos

Lao authorities have intercepted several major drug trafficking operations since the start of 2026, underscoring persistent challenges at international gateways, within domestic networks, and...

Laos Processes 21,003 Drug Cases, Arrests 31,289 Suspects Since 2021

Laos has made progress in its fight against drugs, with 21,003 cases handled and 31,289 suspects arrested between July 2021 and October 2025, Deputy...

Laos Seizes 19 Million Meth Pills, Over 1.6 Tons of Crystal Meth

Laos continues to battle large-scale drug trafficking, with recent major arrests in Bokeo and Vientiane, with police seizing millions of meth pills and over...