Top 8 Major Drug Lords in Vietnam

1. Drug Lord of the Northern Land 'Keangnam' Tàng

Tráng A Tàng, also known as Tàng 'Keangnam' (born in 1982), gained notoriety for his determination to get rich through the drug trade after dropping out of school in 7th grade. Tàng's network was responsible for storing and circulating large quantities of drugs, up to thousands of heroin bricks. The smallest delivery was 40 bricks, the largest reaching 265 bricks, when Tàng was caught red-handed while switching vehicles at 11 a.m. on July 26, 2013. These drugs were mainly gathered from the 'Golden Triangle' area, transported back and forth across the Vietnam-Laos border, smuggled into the country, consolidated in transit areas, and then illegally transported to China. Delivery methods included direct pickup by accomplices or organized delivery to the destination (depending on the partner), with prices varying by about 300 - 500 USD per brick. Investigative authorities prosecuted and temporarily detained 12 suspects, issuing arrest warrants for 6 others involved in the drug trafficking ring led by Tàng.

'Camouflaging' as a successful businessman, growing durians, raising cattle, and holding shares in a milk company, Tráng A Tàng also engaged in philanthropy to create a cover, 'cleverly' laundering illicit money from drug trafficking... Tráng A Tàng, the drug lord of the Golden Triangle smuggling into Vietnam, was sentenced to death along with 8 other defendants. 3 of them, including Tàng's wife and father, received life sentences. The death sentence handed down to Tàng by the judicial authorities came as no surprise, as the culprit himself anticipated the fate that awaited him after committing heinous crimes. Since the case was uncovered, the media has spent much ink recounting the life of this notorious drug lord. Born and raised in a family with a 'stake' in white death trafficking in the drug-infested region (Lũng Lá village, Loóng Luông commune, Mộc Châu district, Sơn La province), Tàng early stepped into the abyss of crime. Tàng's wrongdoing was bolstered by the family's downfall when he was the second son of the Tráng lineage in Lũng Xá village. Though not the eldest son, Tàng was the heir to the Tráng A Chư lineage. And it was Tráng A Trư himself who, leveraging his entrusted position, played a crucial role in supporting Tàng's audacious white death trafficking ventures.

2. Sùng Giống Sếnh: 'Drug Lord' who 'reads' USD denominations with his nose

Sùng Giống Sếnh (born in 1968, with permanent residence in Sa Dung A village, Sa Dung commune, Dien Bien Dong district, Dien Bien province) is a highly dangerous wanted criminal, charged with illegally trading 307 kilograms of opium and 25 heroin bricks. What sets this powerful mafia boss apart is his extraordinary ability to 'feel' and 'smell' the denomination of US dollars. Born and raised amidst lush green forests and deep mountains, his upbringing was not overly difficult, but none of Sếnh's siblings received an education. While his peers were busy starting families and having children, Sếnh crossed the border into Laos to pursue the 'art' of drug trafficking.

By the age of twenty, Sùng Giống Sếnh had become a seasoned drug dealer with a notorious reputation in the Phong Sa Ly area (Laos) and the Northwest provinces of Vietnam. His younger brother, Sùng Giống Tủa, is also a drug smuggler, albeit slightly less 'famous' than his elder brother. Sếnh is cunning and scheming. Evidence shows that he secretly established a drug trafficking network that lasted for 8 years before being uncovered. During his heyday, he amassed millions of US dollars, hundreds of gold bars, equivalent to nearly a hundred billion Vietnamese dong. He is renowned as an iron-fisted crime lord, treating his subordinates extremely ruthlessly. The last time Sếnh was captured was when he was lured out to visit his fields. Five undercover operatives approached and arrested him, seizing an AK rifle and 17 bullets, one of which was already chambered. To safely escort the drug lord off National Highway 279, the task force had to mobilize 57 officers along with 4 police dogs to encircle the area both inside and out.

Đậu Xuân Duyên (born in 1958, from Xuan Giang commune, Nghi Xuan district, Ha Tinh province, temporary residence in Lien Chieu district, Da Nang city) is one of Vietnam's notorious drug lords. Duyên was arrested on the afternoon of August 25, 2011, while driving a car to Dong Luong ward, Dong Ha city, Quang Tri province, to receive 8 heroin bricks worth $48,000 USD that he had ordered from Na Thang (Laotian). From May to August 2011, Duyên smuggled across the border 26 heroin bricks (2.934 kg), and 4,000 synthetic drugs six times, mostly purchased from Nang Thang and then transported to Ho Chi Minh City to sell to a person named Dung, earning tens of thousands of illicit dollars.

Duyên's arrest caused a long-lasting public outcry, and the trial of the defendant garnered much attention because Duyên graduated from university with a degree in international trade, served in the military, worked in several state agencies in Vinh city, and was a successful businessman as the director of two large companies in Nghe An and Da Nang. However, he engaged in the illicit trade with extremely sophisticated methods. Drug lord Đậu Xuân Duyên rightfully earned the title of 'boss' by establishing a nationwide real estate empire. Duyên owns numerous real estate properties in Ha Tinh and Da Nang, some of which the investigative agency believes were acquired with drug money, hence they have proposed seizing them for the state fund.

Trịnh Nguyên Thủy (born on 27/12/1958, native to Sai Nga commune, Cam Khe district, Phu Tho province, residing in Yen Bai). After gaining fame through high-profile heroin deals in the drug haven of Northwest Vietnam in 2001, Thủy became renowned for his method of synthesizing heroin from opium at a ratio of 1/8, meaning for every 100 kg of pure black opium, he could produce 8 kg of heroin (approximately 24-25 bricks) by adding various toxic additives to increase the volume while maintaining the addictive effect for addicts. Despite being a notorious drug lord, he remained very secretive, with mysterious behavior. He had one wife but many mistresses. It was said that Thủy was inadvertently caught by the police while visiting his lover, leading people to speculate that 'this drug lord died for love.'

To apprehend the kingpin, undercover officers had to surveil around the home of Trịnh Nguyên Thủy's 'mistress,' including a house on Thái Hà street, owned by a 21-year-old girl from Hai Duong. However, Thủy was handcuffed on Tran Duy Hung street, near the student village. That same night, the handsome and womanizing kingpin was escorted by a special vehicle to the temporary detention camp of the Phu Tho provincial police. Outwardly, Trịnh Nguyên Thủy appeared polite, reserved, and avoided contact with state officials. He spoke gently but confidently, both with guests and his staff. With this sophisticated and discreet facade, the drug 'godfather' managed to evade the law for many years before being caught.

Among the list of notorious crime lords in the Northwestern border area, the brothers Lý Giống Minh and Lý A Va are also listed as infamous figures. Many fierce gunfights have taken place, with one kingpin in Giống Minh's network only being caught with 2 heroin bricks after madly firing all 8 bullets from his K54 pistol. Immediately after, Giống Minh directed his younger brother to spend $700 to buy an AK rifle across the border. And it was that rifle that Lý A Va used to shoot and kill Lieutenant Phạm Văn Cường and 2 civilians... This drug organization was later dismantled by the police, resulting in the indictment and arrest of 32 suspects in 9 provinces and cities nationwide.

Following the fierce gunfight at Tây Trang Pass, National Highway 279, and A Tú, born in 1971 - another illiterate crime boss was only caught with 2 heroin bricks after madly firing all 8 bullets from his K54 pistol. Lý Giống Minh is famous for the story of carrying a bag of money into a car showroom in Ba Đình district to buy a car. Because of his sloppy appearance, wearing sandals at the door, the guards mistook him for a prankster and chased him out cleverly. Minh, without saying a word, threw the bag containing 3.8 billion VND onto the desk of a few receptionists who were flirting, then pointed to the flashy Land Cruiser: 'I'm buying that car!'. Taking the car, Minh sped back to Na Ư and parked the million-dollar car next to the buffalo stable.

In the realm of drug trafficking, Nguyễn Văn Hải, alias “Debate Hải”, is revered as the kingpin of the largest drug syndicate ever apprehended in the country. At the time of his trial, Nguyễn Văn Hải and 28 accomplices were charged with trafficking 2,350 heroin bricks (equivalent to 800 kg). “Debate Hải,” along with Lệ 'Chunky,' Hạnh 'Hold,' Tuấn 'Rabbit,' and dozens of other associates, formed a nationwide criminal syndicate trafficking hundreds of kilograms of heroin. After over two years of operation, this network smuggled a large quantity of heroin into Vietnam like never before. On August 21, 2003, drug lord Hải “Debate” and Lệ 'Chunky' were apprehended by the Ho Chi Minh City Police. The drug smuggling hub. Of the four “kingpins” in this massive drug network — Hải Debate, Dũng Lừng, Lệ Chunky, and Hạnh Hold — Hải Debate is considered the “collection point.” The investigation process revealed that, when just beginning his criminal career, Hải Debate purchased 2 heroin bricks from Lê Văn An, a trafficker who also circulated counterfeit money (who has since been executed) and 2 bricks from Đồng Sỹ Sơn; Nguyễn Hữu Lâm sold him 8 bricks to resell to other “bigwigs,” earning $1,000 USD per brick.

After gaining enough power and contacts but with law enforcement closing in on familiar leads, Hải Debate began collaborating with Nguyễn Viết Dũng (Dũng Lừng) to execute multiple heroin trafficking “jobs.” First was a purchase from Xỏi, a Cambodian, totaling 185 bricks, followed by another from Trần Văn Hợi for 515 bricks, and the pinnacle was 649 bricks purchased from Nguyễn Đình Hoành. Not stopping there, Hải Debate personally compressed an additional 134 heroin bricks to supply to some “big shots.” Seemingly aware of the outcome of his crimes, at the trial, Hải Debate remained calm while answering the judges' questions. Hải confessed: “Each heroin brick weighs approximately 240 grams, which is then compressed and mixed to weigh 350 grams, sold for $4,500 USD per brick, yielding over 5 million VND per brick.” Despite trafficking 1,495 bricks and earning over 5 million VND per brick, when asked if he acquired any assets, Hải replied that he did not buy anything because: “During the time on the run, it was all spent.” However, when asked about the amount of money Hải received in the “job” involving 515 bricks with Trần Văn Hợi, Hải Debate admitted: “The money earned bought 2 cars and a 4.1-hectare piece of land.” Transferring money through the “black credit” system.

Nguyễn Chiến Thắng, also known as Thắng 'Chunky,' Thắng 'Sweet' (hailing from Nam Ðàn, Nghệ An), was born into a notorious family involved in drug trafficking. After a month-long pursuit in Thailand and Laos, C17 detectives pinpointed Thắng's return schedule from Laos to Thailand, hence ambushing and arresting him with close escorts, armed and ready to shoot or throw grenades at anyone causing trouble. Confiscated evidence includes a Laotian-plated Toyota Fortuner, $2,000 USD, a phone, and various related documents. Since 2002, when Thắng's associates, all big-time drug lords, were successively caught, fearing the “small fries” supplying drugs to numerous exposed networks, Thắng swiftly fled to Laos, operating near the Thai border, continuing the trade of “white death” with much larger scale and more sophisticated tactics. Even when Nguyễn Chiến Thắng was red-flagged by Interpol, he did not flinch.

According to an investigator, Nguyễn Chiến Thắng has a criminal record of 20 years in drug trafficking, born into a notorious family with a tradition of drug trafficking in Vinh city (Nghệ An). Thắng's mother is Bùi Thị Hường, and his sister Trần Thị Tâm is serving a life sentence for drug trafficking. His younger brother Nguyễn Đình Lợi received the death penalty for transporting 7.2 kg of heroin investigated by the Hà Tĩnh police. His sister Trần Thị Tuyết was released from prison after serving 12 years for drug trafficking. In 2003, Thắng was also wanted by the Security Investigation Agency for this offense. After fleeing to Laos, Thắng organized another illegal drug trafficking route from the neighboring country to Vietnam for consumption. Not only involved in drug trafficking, Thắng's network also participated in smuggling foreign currencies across the border. At the time of arrest, Thắng's network members were caught transporting and illegally trading 144 heroin bricks and smuggling $80,000 USD across the border.

Drug lord Vũ Xuân Trường was a hot topic in the late 20th century as at that time, Trường was a major with the Criminal Police Department of the Ministry of Public Security. After Xiêng Phênh was arrested, the entire drug trafficking network of this major was also arrested. The suspects in the network traded and transported over 250kg of heroin, 210kg of opium, and smuggled drugs into Vietnam 11 times. Taking place in the 1990s, the Xiêng Phênh - Vũ Xuân Trường case is still considered one of the classic cases in the history of Vietnam's struggle against drug crime by the People's Public Security forces.

In this case, drug lord Vũ Xuân Trường, Xiêng Phênh (Laotian) and their accomplices conspired with many corrupted officials, including those from border guards and anti-drug police, to establish a wide network for transporting and consuming drugs from Laos to Vietnam. In the network, heroin and opium were transferred from Laos through the Tây Trang border gate, facilitated by Bùi Danh Ca, the deputy commander of Tây Trang Border Guard Station, and some subordinates to ensure safety. The goods were then gathered in Điện Biên before being transported to Hanoi sometimes by an IFA truck of Nam Hà Import-Export Company - U Đôm Xay... During the struggle, Vũ Xuân Trường - Xiêng Phệnh admitted to conducting 10 drug trafficking cases.