A Nigerian has been arrested in Vietnam after officials allegedly discovered 2kg of suspected crystal methamphetamine and two suspected bricks of heroin hidden in a Laos shipment.
On Monday, VietnamPlus claimed that the drugs were seized at the Lao Bao International Border Gate in Quang Tri Province after customs agents identified suspicious images in a consigned box during a search.
According to the report, the instance was discovered at 8:30 p.m. on August 5 while customs personnel were scrutinizing road cars crossing into Vietnam from Laos at the border gate.
“Customs officers detected suspicious images in a consigned package using scanning equipment,” the report stated.
A further physical check reportedly discovered that the drugs were hidden inside electric water heaters and electronic components “used as disguises.”
The discovery prompted suspicions of transnational drug trafficking, prompting Region IX’s Customs Sub-Department to spearhead the investigation with its customs control team.
According to the report, the authorities collaborated “to identify and locate the recipient” of the shipment.
“After several days of tracing the consignment across multiple locations,” law enforcement officers arrested Izuchukwu Calistus Odionye, a Nigerian national born in 1983, on August 9 in Ho Chi Minh City while he was receiving the package.
The suspect allegedly admitted that the box contained drugs.
Odionye informed police that he “had been hired to receive it in Ho Chi Minh City and transport it to Hanoi,” according to the report.
The Vietnamese authorities have since broadened their investigation to identify more people who are claimed to be engaged in the crime.
“The investigation has been expanded to identify other people involved,” the report added.
