Ho Chi Minh City police arrest 36 in inter-provincial drug ring

From a drug use incident, police expanded their investigation to neighboring provinces, arresting Hoang Phi Long, 28, and 35 others.

On 4/2, Hoang Phi Long and 35 other individuals were arrested by Ho Chi Minh City police on suspicion of illegal drug trafficking, possession, and organizing drug use.

Hoang Phi Long at the investigative agency. *Photo: Ho Chi Minh City Police*

Investigators identified Hoang Phi Long as the ringleader of an inter-provincial drug supply network spanning from Ho Chi Minh City to Tay Ninh and Dong Nai. He had a prior conviction for murder and was wanted by Dong Nai provincial police for disturbing public order.

The special investigation commenced in 12/2025 after ward police in Ho Chi Minh City discovered a group organizing drug use. Subsequently, the Ho Chi Minh City Police's Drug Crime Investigation Department broadened its probe to identify the supply network.

On 27/1, during surveillance, detectives apprehended Tran Thi Huong Trang, 35, and her partner Tran Thanh Hai, who were identified as key suppliers, while they were engaged in drug transactions.

Tran Thi Huong Trang (right) and her boyfriend Tran Thanh Hai. *Photo: Ho Chi Minh City Police*

The investigation broadened, with dozens of criminal detectives fanning out across Ho Chi Minh City and Tay Ninh. They traced leads and apprehended numerous suspects on streets or at their hideouts. In total, 36 individuals, including Hoang Phi Long, were arrested.

Rapid tests confirmed that all 36 individuals tested positive for drugs. Police identified this as a professional drug operation structured into three tiers: the ringleader, upper-level distributors, and a network of organizers and users.

Beyond Hoang Phi Long, the arrested group included three individuals with prior convictions for illegal drug trafficking, and one person with 4 previous convictions.

Ho Chi Minh City Police stated that, operating under the motto, "Not only targeting intermediaries, but apprehending the entire network, including the ringleader and prosecuting users," task forces meticulously traced the drug flow from individual users and organizers, through retail contacts, all the way to high-level kingpins.