Luang Namtha police seized more than 2,500 packages of illicit drugs in Phiyer village of Sing district last week, with at least 5 million amphetamine tablets confiscated.
Provincial police in Luang Namtha told Vientiane Times yesterday they have arrested four suspects who have been charged with possessing drugs, saying they purchased the amphetamines in a clandestine deal with drug traffickers in a neighbouring country.
Captain Latsavang Lachittham, who is head of the provincial drug suppression division, said yesterday police are conducting further investigations in the hope of tracking down any other people connected to what looks to be a fairly major drug trafficking syndicate.
Captain Latsavang believes the four suspects had plans to sell the drugs to dealers in Vientiane and other large towns in Laos, had they not been intercepted by the police.
Police say they received a tip-off from grassroots officials in Pha-ngua village group in Long district about suspected criminal activities in the area.
They set up surveillance and after some time detected a convoy of pick-up trucks travelling from the border area in Meuang Sing. A checkpoint was set up to stop the trucks but when they saw the road block, the suspects attempted to abscond.
Two vehicles drove through the checkpoint and refused to stop while the other two tried to turn around, but the police had enough manpower at the scene to apprehend all four of the men attempting to flee.
Five million drug tablets weighing in excess of half a tonne, or 586kg, were found in their possession.
The four men arrested were Mr Ya, 38, of Na-ngam village in Xay district, Oudomxay province; Mr Thorya, 25, from Xaychaleun village in Huayxay district, Bokeo province; Mr Xuava, 35, from Chomsouk village also in Huayxay district; and Mr Long, 30, from Saenkham village in Xay district of Oudomxay province.
The four suspects are now being detained by police for further questioning, before going to trial and being sentenced in accordance with Lao law. Captain Latsavang said this is the biggest drug trafficking arrest ever to take place in the province, thanks to cooperation between the police, local authorities and villagers.
Other major drug busts made by the police in Luang Namtha province include 337 packages of amphetamines (with each package containing 2,000 tablets) in June 2011 and another 330 packages of amphetamines in April this year.
“Luang Namtha province is a transit province through which drugs are trafficked for distribution in large towns such as Vientiane,” Captain Latsavang said.
To address the problem, he said, the authorities would assign more officials to work at the grassroots level to identify the groups suspected of being engaged in drug trafficking.
Police also launched an awareness campaign, highlighting the penalties that apply to traffickers as well as reminding villagers about the dangers of drugs.
