Four customs security officials belonging to a team in charge of scanning and inspection of goods at Tan Son Nhat International Airport were suspended from work for failing to discover 600 bricks of heroin hidden in a consignment being sent to Taiwan (China).
Taiwanese authorities on November 17 discovered 600 bricks of heroin weighing 229 kilograms with estimated value of US$300 million hidden in 12 empty stereo speakers. The drugs were being carried on China Airline departing from Tan Son Nhat International Airport to Taoyuan International Airport in Taiwan.
According to initial information, the consignor of the shipment was Le Hoa Freight Forwarding Company with headquarters in District 1 in Ho Chi Minh City.
Security officers said at the time of checking the consignment, the system was out of order, so they had to use a standby hand device instead and this alternative method failed to detect the drugs.
The Drug Crime Investigation Department under the Ministry of Public Security has summoned and is questioning many people involved in transport, delivery, receipt, and inspection of the consignment.
