A Nigerian national has been arrested in Vietnam after authorities allegedly discovered 2kg of suspected crystal methamphetamine and two suspected bricks of heroin concealed in a consignment originating from Laos.
According to a report by VietnamPlus on Monday, the drugs were intercepted at the Lao Bao International Border Gate in Quang Tri Province after customs officers detected suspicious images during the scanning of a consigned package.
The discovery was reportedly made at about 8:30pm on August 5, while customs officers were inspecting vehicles entering Vietnam from Laos through the border crossing.
A subsequent physical inspection allegedly uncovered the suspected drugs concealed inside electric water heaters and electronic components, which investigators said had been used as disguises.
Following the discovery, the Customs Sub-Department of Region IX reportedly assigned a customs control team to investigate the suspected transnational drug trafficking operation.
The investigation involved several agencies, including the Lao Bao International Border Gate customs branch, the drug-related crimes investigation police division of the Quang Tri Police, the anti-smuggling investigation authorities and the provincial Border Guard.
The agencies subsequently began efforts to identify and locate the intended recipient of the consignment.
After several days of tracing the package across multiple locations, authorities arrested Izuchukwu Calistus Odionye, a Nigerian national born in 1983, on August 9 in Ho Chi Minh City, while he was allegedly receiving the consignment.
VietnamPlus reported that the suspect admitted that the package contained drugs.
Odionye reportedly told investigators that he had been hired to receive the package in Ho Chi Minh City and transport it to Hanoi.
Vietnamese authorities have since expanded the investigation as they seek to identify other individuals allegedly connected to the suspected trafficking operation.
The case remains under investigation by the Vietnamese authorities.
Source: VietnamPlus
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