Some of them were nabbed in Son La province in the northern mountains and others in the Vietnamese capital.

The gang had transported around 60 kg of heroin from Son La and Lai Chau, also in the mountains, to Hanoi.

The five, Duong Cao Son, Lai Van Son, Tran Duy Hung, Tran Duc Phuong, and Tran Van Minh, are all aged between 26 and 47, and hail from Son La or Hanoi.

Vietnam has some of the toughest drug laws in the world. Possessing, trading, or trafficking 600 grams (1.32 pounds) of heroin or 20 kilograms (44 pounds) of opium is punishable by death.

Reported by Viet Chien – Translated by An Dien