Vietnamese border guards and Laos authorities conducted a joint operation on Wednesday and arrested two Lao men who were trafficking 35 kilograms of opium into Vietnam. 

Bua Thoong, 38, and Bua May, 35, were stopped while they were riding two motorbikes, trying to cross the border from Houaphan Province to enter Vietnam.

The drugs were found inside their bamboo baskets.

Officials said this was the one of the biggest drug busts in the area.

Vietnam has some of the world’s toughest drug laws. Those convicted of possessing or smuggling more than 600 grams of heroin or more than 2.5 kilograms of methamphetamine face the death penalty.

The production or sale of 100 grams of heroin or 300 grams of other illegal narcotics is also punishable by death.