In a sweeping crackdown on a major drug trafficking operation, the Vietnamese Ministry of Public Security has arrested 740 individuals and charged 540 as part of a case involving over 150 billion VND (approximately $6.5 million). The investigation, known as case 291T, was initiated after authorities identified Nguyen Hoang Giang, a 29-year-old from Ha Dong, Hanoi, as a participant in a large-scale drug trafficking ring that imported narcotics from Laos and Europe for distribution in Vietnam.

The criminal organization operated in a highly organized manner, utilizing encrypted social media for communication and frequently changing their methods to evade law enforcement. The drug delivery process was divided into numerous stages and locations, with financial transactions obscured through multiple intermediaries to conceal the flow of money.

On March 23, the Criminal Investigation Department for Drug-related Crimes (C04) reported to the Ministry of Public Security, leading to the establishment of case 291T. This operation involved collaboration with various police units across nine provinces and cities to combat the drug trafficking network.

On May 31, nearly 350 officers were deployed in 19 teams to execute the operation. Authorities caught three individuals in Hưng Yên red-handed, seizing 71 kg of synthetic drugs. Following this, police across different localities arrested an additional 264 suspects, confiscating 20.1 kg of synthetic drugs, five vehicles, and 741 million VND in cash.

As the investigation progressed, authorities identified hundreds of individuals linked to the operation, organized into layers from distributors to transporters moving drugs from the border to various cities, including Hanoi, Hai Phong, and Thanh Hoa.

To date, the authorities have seized over 103 kg of synthetic drugs, 5.75 ml of etomidate, nine vehicles, and various other assets. C04 and local investigative agencies have initiated 212 criminal cases against 540 defendants across eight different charges, while also implementing administrative measures and mandatory rehabilitation for several other individuals.

Notably, the investigation has brought to light Cao Ngoc Sang, a 36-year-old from Thanh Hoa, also known as Sang 'Con', identified as the leader of a group of online gangsters. The evidence suggests that Sang and his associates are implicated in illegal drug possession, organizing drug use, and failing to report criminal activities.