Five arrested in Ho Chi Minh City for selling drug-laced e-cigarettes
Translated from Vietnamese, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
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- Police in Ho Chi Minh City have arrested five individuals for allegedly selling electronic cigarettes containing the illegal substance etomidate.
- The suspects were found with a large quantity of e-cigarettes and related equipment, including pre-filled cartridges and empty casings.
- Investigations revealed the group sold these e-cigarettes for prices ranging from 1.6 to 2.5 million Vietnamese dong per unit.
Authorities in Ho Chi Minh City have initiated a criminal case and detained five individuals suspected of illegally trading in electronic cigarettes laced with narcotics. The suspects, identified as Tran Nguyen Ngoc Quoc Bao, Trinh Thi Nhu Quynh, Tran Ngoc Phuc, Huynh Nguyen Huu Thang, and Nguyen Bao Lam, are under investigation for "illegal trading of narcotic substances."
Trแบงn Nguyแป n Ngแปc Quแปc Bแบฃo and Trแปnh Thแป Nhฦฐ Quแปณnh were found storing a quantity of electronic cigarettes containing narcotic oil for sale to customers.
The operation stemmed from a surprise inspection by Hรฒa Hฦฐng Ward police at an address on 3-2 Street. Officers discovered a substantial cache of electronic cigarettes and related paraphernalia. This included 1,783 pre-filled e-cigarette cartridges, 60 black e-cigarette devices, and 2,012 empty plastic casings intended for e-cigarette production.
During questioning, Tran Nguyen Ngoc Quoc Bao and Trinh Thi Nhu Quynh reportedly confessed that the pre-filled cartridges and devices were supplied by an unidentified woman. They claimed she provided them to sell to customers via express delivery services. The same woman allegedly hired Tran Ngoc Phuc and Huynh Nguyen Huu Thang to assist in selling the e-cigarettes using a similar method. Nguyen Bao Lam was reportedly responsible for delivering the e-cigarettes to Bao.
The pre-filled cartridges and black devices were provided by a woman (identity and whereabouts unknown) to sell to customers through express delivery.
Forensic analysis conducted by the Ho Chi Minh City Police's Criminal Science Department confirmed that the 1,783 pre-filled cartridges contained etomidate, a controlled substance. The group allegedly sold these drug-infused e-cigarettes at prices ranging from approximately 1.6 to 2.5 million Vietnamese dong per unit, with the devices themselves selling for 1.4 million dong each. The Hรฒa Hฦฐng Ward police have since handed over the case, evidence, and suspects to the City Police's Criminal Investigation Agency for further proceedings.
The 1,783 pre-filled cartridges containing oil were found to contain narcotic substances (etomidate).
DistantNews Editorial
Originally published by Tuแปi Trแบป in Vietnamese. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.
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