Border guards in the central province of Quang Tri arrested two Lao men on Tuesday (July 11) in possession of 40,000 tablets of synthetic drugs attempting to cross the border into Vietnam.

Such a large scale bust demonstrates that synthetic drug labs and production in Laos is becoming more evident and that it is a significant transit nation for drug smuggling into Vietnam.

Bun Lieng, 33, and Thao Xay, 38, from the province of Salavan in Laos were arrested about 2pm at the La Lay border gate in the district of Dakrong in Quang Tri Province.

Border guards seized the 40,000 tablets of drugs classified as ecstasy, although their exact chemical composition is still unknown, one K59 military pistol, six bullets, two mobile phones and one motorbike.

The duo admitted they were planning on selling their pills in Vietnam.

VOV