Skip to main content
BBC NEWS / ASIA-PACIFIC
Graphics VersionBBC Sport Home
News Front Page | Africa | Americas | Asia-Pacific | Europe | Middle East | South Asia | UK | Business | Health | Science & Environment | Technology | Entertainment | Also in the news | Have Your Say |
15:42 GMT, Thursday, 15 May 2008 16:42 UK

Vietnam drugs haul 'largest ever'

Police officer holds up pack of drugs from boxes

Police in Vietnam say they have found nearly nine tons of cannabis in a shipment of blue jeans from Pakistan.

The authorities say it is their largest ever drugs seizure - at a value of $90m (£45m).

The drugs, shipped through the port of Hai Phong, were found near the border with China, and are believed to have been ultimately bound for Canada.

Four Chinese citizens and one Indonesian have been arrested in connection with the find.

Tough laws

Anti-drugs police said that the cannabis resin was seized earlier this week on two trucks heading for the Chinese border. It had arrived in April on a ship from Pakistan.

Vietnam has introduced some of the world's toughest drugs laws, and the possession or trafficking of heroin or opium is punishable by death or life imprisonment.

In February a government review of drug-related crimes and trafficking said border provinces had strengthened ties with neighbour countries to fight the transport of drugs.




E-mail this to a friend
Related to this story:
Eleven face Vietnam's drugs death penalty (26 Jun 00 |  Asia-Pacific )

RELATED INTERNET LINKS
Vietnam country profile
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites



SEARCH BBC NEWS: 

News Front Page | Africa | Americas | Asia-Pacific | Europe | Middle East | South Asia | UK | Business | Health | Science & Environment | Technology | Entertainment | Also in the news | Have Your Say |

NewsWatch | Notes | Contact us | About BBC News | Profiles | History

^ Back to top | BBC Sport Home | BBC Homepage | Contact us | Help | ©