10 Foreign Nationals Arrested in Ho Chi Minh City Drug Ring

Police have dismantled a major drug ring that infused e-liquid with narcotics for e-cigarettes, apprehending 65 individuals, including 10 foreign nationals identified as key figures.

On 31/7, the Drug Crime Investigation Police Department (PC04) of Ho Chi Minh City Police announced the arrest of 65 individuals involved in a ring specializing in mixing and selling narcotic-laced e-cigarettes, commonly known as pod chill.

Among the suspects are 4 Singaporean nationals, 4 Malaysian nationals, and 2 Taiwanese nationals.

Hoo Jia How, 30, a Malaysian national, and Melvin Tan Junjie, 30, a Singaporean national, were identified as the alleged ringleaders.

Foreign suspects arrested while mixing narcotics into e-cigarettes. Photo: Ho Chi Minh City Police

Earlier in July, police detected suspicious activities related to this ring. After tracking various leads, dozens of detectives simultaneously raided a house on Cong Quynh street, Cau Ong Lanh ward, arresting Hoo Jia How and Melvin Tan Junjie.

At the location, police seized 1,331 e-cigarette pods and 140 ml of e-liquid containing Etomidate, used for mixing.

Expanding the investigation, police arrested Oh Jang Fong, a Singaporean national, accused of directly supplying the narcotic e-liquid to the ring.

According to their statements, Melvin Tan Junjie and Hoo Jia How received the e-liquid from Oh Jang Fong, brought it back to the rented house on Cong Quynh street, and then injected it into the pod chill units themselves.

The products were subsequently distributed and sold to both Vietnamese and foreign customers. Many buyers then resold them or organized their use.

Further investigation led police to dismantle two additional distribution branches for narcotic-laced e-cigarettes, operated by Le Ton Nu Diem Thuy, 23, and Tran Dinh Canh, 24.

The total evidence seized included nearly 2,000 pod chill units containing narcotics and 140 ml of Etomidate e-liquid.

Evidence seized by police. Photo: Ho Chi Minh City Police

Hiding Behind 'No Test Detection'

Etomidate is a medical anesthetic that was mixed into e-cigarette solutions. Since 19/1, this substance has been classified as a narcotic.

According to Ho Chi Minh City Police, pod chill containing Etomidate was often advertised with phrases like "undetectable by drug tests" or "not a narcotic," misleading users into believing it was a safe product.

When inhaled, Etomidate rapidly enters the bloodstream and affects the brain. Initially, users may feel relaxed and euphoric, but they can quickly fall into deep drowsiness, reduced awareness, lack of concentration, slow reflexes, dizziness, slurred speech, and unsteady gait.

In severe cases, the substance can cause confusion, disorientation, seizures, impaired consciousness, respiratory depression, hypotension, and even death.