At a press conference held on the morning of December 24, Colonel Vo Duy Tuan, Deputy Director of Dak Lak Provincial Police, announced the results of the operation that targeted a large-scale, highly organized drug syndicate.

After monitoring the situation for some time, authorities discovered an interprovincial and transnational drug ring trafficking narcotics from Cambodia into Vietnam via Ho Chi Minh City, Lam Dong, Dak Lak, and Khanh Hoa.

On December 17, police launched Operation 1225M to track and eliminate the network.

The task force identified over 20 suspects operating with sophisticated, aggressive tactics. They used firearms, encrypted communication apps, and auto-delete messaging to evade surveillance.

The ringleaders were identified as Nguyen Thanh Bao (born 1986) and Lam Anh Vy (born 1996), both residents of Thuan An Commune, Lam Dong Province.

Bao and Vy allegedly purchased narcotics from unknown individuals in Cambodia via the encrypted Signal account “Le Phi Long.” Payments were made through bank accounts registered under the name “Nguyen Ngoc Hung.” The drugs were then picked up near the Dak Peur border gate in Lam Dong before being distributed to various provinces.

In Tuy Hoa Ward, Dak Lak, task forces arrested Le Chi Binh (born 1983, from Hoa Thinh Commune) along with several associates. Binh violently resisted arrest, biting an officer and causing injury.

A search of his home revealed large quantities of methamphetamine hidden in herbal tea packaging and stashed in shoe cabinets, bathrooms, and bedrooms. Police confiscated over 2.15kg of crystal meth, 10 grams of heroin, and five MDMA pills.

In Thanh Nhat Ward, Dak Lak, police intercepted Do Van Ninh (born 1981) and Nguyen Hoang Thinh (born 1988) shortly after they purchased drugs from Vu Dinh Trong (born 1981). Authorities seized 46.88 grams of methamphetamine and 10 ecstasy tablets (0.99 grams), before detaining Trong.

Despite intense questioning, Trong was uncooperative and evasive.

The investigation team, with support from the PK02 Unit, deployed four sniffer dogs and two excavators to search his 2,000m² compound.

Police discovered narcotics hidden in ceiling compartments and buried at multiple points across the garden.

They seized a total of 3.5kg of ketamine, 2.5kg of methamphetamine, 59 ecstasy tablets, 11,110 pills of meth-based “hồng phiến,” along with two guns, ammunition, and various other related items.

In Thuan An Commune, Lam Dong, police conducted emergency searches and arrested Nguyen Thanh Bao and Lam Anh Vy, seizing over 100 grams of synthetic drugs, including ecstasy, ketamine, and methamphetamine.

In Thuan Giao Ward, Ho Chi Minh City, the task force also arrested Doan Minh Duong (born 1999, from Tan Dong Hiep Ward), searching his residence and collecting additional evidence.

Hai Duong