On 15/9, Ho Chi Minh City (TP HCM) Police issued an arrest warrant for Ly on charges of failure to report a crime.

This action is part of an expanded investigation into a drug trafficking ring operating between the Golden Triangle and TP HCM, as well as other provinces. Early last year, police arrested Pham Cong Chanh and Le Thanh Tu, the ringleaders, along with more than 20 other individuals.

Ly fled her home in Binh Duong (now part of TP HCM) when investigators began to focus on her failure to report the crime.

Le Pham Hieu Ly is wanted by police. Photo: Police Department

In early 2024, Tan Binh District Police uncovered a major drug operation led by Chanh, involving several notorious gangsters. The TP HCM Police Department launched a special operation, deploying numerous officers for an extensive surveillance period.

On the afternoon of 22/2/2024, upon confirming the group had brought drugs from Cambodia into TP HCM, the task force launched a raid. Officers stormed an apartment in the Leontina Apartment building on Ngo Be Street (former Ward 13, Tan Binh District) and arrested Chanh with nearly 8 kg of drugs disguised in tea packages.

Expanding their investigation, police arrested Phan Van Trung, 28, and, in coordination with Ba Ria - Vung Tau province, Lai Vi Thieu, 26. These individuals had worked at Cambodian casinos and collaborated with criminals there to transport drugs from the Golden Triangle to Vietnam.

Le Pham Hieu Ly on her personal Facebook page. Photo: Police Department

Investigators identified another key figure in the ring as Le Thanh Tu (also known as Co), 42, a gangster from the former District 8. He lived with his girlfriend in a house in Ward 14, Go Vap District. When the task force approached and questioned his girlfriend, Tu arrived by taxi.

Upon exiting the taxi and noticing the undercover police, Tu attempted to flee back into the vehicle. Simultaneously, officers converged from multiple directions.

Tu drew a gun and aimed it at an officer, but the gun jammed. During the ensuing struggle, an officer's gun accidentally discharged twice. Fortunately, no one was injured, and Tu was apprehended.

To justify possessing the concealed firearm, Tu carried a note that read, "I found this item and am on my way to turn it in to the nearest Ministry of Public Security office." He believed this would deflect suspicion from his drug trafficking activities.

At the time of his arrest, Tu claimed to have recently received a shipment of 11 kg of ketamine, 6 kg of methamphetamine, and 10 cakes of heroin, but stated he had already "delivered everything." Suspecting the drugs had been flushed down a toilet, police drained and tested nearly 800 cubic meters of wastewater. The results confirmed the presence of various narcotics, providing crucial evidence.

Quoc Thang