Customs bust 4.5kg cocaine trafficking case at Tan Son Nhat airport

A Thai female passenger was arrested at Tan Son Nhat airport after 4.94kg of cocaine was found concealed in her luggage. She had arrived from South America and was transiting to a third country.

  • Senegalese man arrested for trafficking cocaine – in his stomach
Customs bust 4.5kg cocaine trafficking case at Tan Son Nhat airport -0
4.5kg cocaine seized by customs at Tan Son Nhat airport (Photo courtesy of Department of Customs)

The Department of Customs reported on February 27 that during a peak anti-smuggling campaign ahead of the 2026 Lunar New Year (Tet) holiday, customs forces uncovered 35 cases and seized about 165kg of various drugs, including nearly 4.5kg of cocaine trafficked through Tan Son Nhat International Airport.

In the first two months of 2026 (December 15, 2025 – February 14, 2026), customs units, working independently and in coordination with other forces, detected 35 cases involving 42 suspects, with customs leading nine. Seized items included 14.18kg of cannabis, 14.2kg of heroin, 4.94kg of cocaine, 5.96kg of ketamine, 126kg of synthetic drugs, and 372.25 grams of other narcotics.

Notably on February 5, a Thai female passenger was arrested at Tan Son Nhat airport after 4.94kg of cocaine was found concealed in her luggage. She had arrived from South America and was transiting to a third country.

Customs authorities said traffickers have been exploiting short transit time in Vietnam to evade detection, reflecting organised transnational operations. The agency will continue strengthening risk analysis, applying advanced technology, and enhancing inter-agency and international cooperation to combat drug trafficking and smuggling.

  • Customs bust 4.5kg cocaine trafficking case at Tan Son Nhat airport ảnh 2 Vietnam, Cambodia join hands in combating drugs
  • Customs bust 4.5kg cocaine trafficking case at Tan Son Nhat airport ảnh 3 Whole society uniting in building a drug-free community
VNA

Other News

Communication drive promoted for 500-day campaign to locate, identify fallen soldiers' remains

Communication drive promoted for 500-day campaign to locate, identify fallen soldiers' remains

Under the plan, all central and local media outlets are required to launch columns on the campaign, maintain regular coverage, and produce at least five to seven in-depth reports each month in key search areas. Media agencies will also be encouraged to gather and verify valuable information and develop high-quality products in both Vietnamese and foreign languages, including feature articles, documentaries, reports and short videos.

First Vietnamese pagoda in Tokyo inaugurated

First Vietnamese pagoda in Tokyo inaugurated

Ambassador Pham Quang Hieu expressed confidence that the establishment will serve as a strong spiritual anchor for Vietnamese people living in Japan while contributing to friendship and cultural exchanges between the two countries.

National drive kicks off to protect, support children online

National drive kicks off to protect, support children online

Cyberspace now runs through children’s learning, entertainment, and daily lives, but warned it is laced with dangerous content, online insults, threats, and seemingly harmless clicks that can trigger fraud, data breaches, and risks children who are not yet equipped to handle.

Vietnam, RoK scholars discuss diplomatic perspectives amid modern East Asia

Vietnam, RoK scholars discuss diplomatic perspectives amid modern East Asia

A scholar has stressed the need for Vietnam to make use of cooperation opportunities arising from the RoK’s foreign policy, particularly in semiconductor technology, artificial intelligence (AI), supply chains, digital transformation, and green energy, as well as chances in multilateral diplomacy.

'Barefoot inventor' and global ambitions

'Barefoot inventor' and global ambitions

Pham Van Hat is best known as the creator of the made-in-Vietnam “Seed Sowing Robot,” now exported to 15 countries, alongside dozens of practical inventions that have eased labour for thousands of farmers.

Safeguarding fairness for creators, future of Vietnam's culture

Safeguarding fairness for creators, future of Vietnam's culture

Films, music, television programmes, e-books, video games, journalistic works, images and creative data can now be copied, edited and redistributed within minutes. While copyright violations were once linked mainly to pirated discs or counterfeit books, infringements have shifted online with faster speed, wider scale and greater anonymity.

Flower tribute ceremony honours President Ho Chi Minh in Russia

Flower tribute ceremony honours President Ho Chi Minh in Russia

Consul General Nguyen Viet Kien stressed President Ho Chi Minh’s reputation and career transcended Vietnam’s borders to inspire liberation movements worldwide, and that his ideas on the right to self-determination, peace, and friendship among nations remain deeply relevant today.

Education ministry targets five digital technology incubators at universities

Education ministry targets five digital technology incubators at universities

A key target under the new plan is the establishment of five digital technology incubators, or Deeptech Hubs, at universities and research institutes with strong potential. The education ministry also plans to launch a training programme for 1,000 outstanding technology entrepreneurs and develop criteria for selecting and supporting startup ecosystems within educational institutions.

Vietnam steps up implementation of ethnic affairs strategy through 2030

Vietnam steps up implementation of ethnic affairs strategy through 2030

To accelerate the implementation of the the Ethnic Affairs Strategy by 2030, with a vision toward 2045, the Prime Minister requested ministries, agencies and local authorities to continue thoroughly carrying out the Party and State’s policies on ethnic affairs, enhancing the effectiveness of State management and strengthening oversight of policy implementation.

Security preparations reviewed for APEC 2027 in Phu Quoc

Security preparations reviewed for APEC 2027 in Phu Quoc

The team examined the APEC 2027 Convention Centre, where main conference activities are scheduled; Sun Serenia Hospital, designated to provide healthcare and emergency medical services for delegates; provincial road DT.975, which connects Phu Quoc International Airport to the convention centre; and the area surrounding Phu Quoc International Airport.