Police and a border military patrol in Laos’ Attapeu province recently intercepted a shipment of drugs in Sanamxay district, leading to the arrest of four people and the seizure of 43kg of crystal methamphetamine.
Sanamxay borders Siem Pang district’s Santepheap, which is the northernmost commune in Cambodia’s Stung Treng province.
Police in charge of drug control and supervision at the Public Security Office in Attapeu said that in cooperation with border military personnel and authorities in Hadyai village they had arrested four people as they transported crystal methamphetamine to the Xepien border crossing with Cambodia.
Those arrested were named as Somvith, male, 45, from Elaitai village in Xaysettha district; Khanthong, male, 24, from Khanmark village in Vangvieng district, Vientiane province; Keovilay, female, 30, from Phonxay village in Pakse city, Champasak province; and Pepsi, female, 24, from Namphao village, Vangvieng district.
They were stopped as they were driving an SUV towards the Xepien border crossing. Police discovered 25 packages of crystal methamphetamine weighing 43kg and white powder used in the production of drugs hidden inside the vehicle’s fuel tank. Officials are continuing their investigations in the hope of identifying other individuals involved in the drug ring.
Drug traffickers favour Attapeu province as a transit area because it attracts a lot of migrants from other provinces and also from neighbouring countries, according to police. The government is clamping down on the drug trade and many traffickers have been arrested and jailed.
The government has asked the Ministry of Public Security to broaden its investigations into the drug problem and is also trying to protect young people through educational programmes about the dangers of drugs.
VIENTIANE TIMES/ASIA NEWS NETWORK