Vietnam's largest drug trial gets underway

The 33-year-old drug lord, Trang A Tang, and 11 of his accomplices are standing trial for the largest heroin case the country has ever seen.

On July 26, 2013, the police seized 265 bars, or 92.8kg, of heroin and more than 500 methamphetamine pills carefully hidden inside two cars belonging to Tang and his spouse, Giang Thi Sua. The couple refused to stop at a police checkpoint, spurring a car chase before they were arrested in Bac Giang.

Further investigation by the police revealed this case was the largest drug operation ever recorded by the country. Tang was allegedly the head of an international drug-trafficking network.

Tang and his accomplices allegedly bought heroin from Laos and Thailand and stored it at his father's house in Moc Chau, northern Son La Province.

Tang's network reportedly smuggled nearly 1,800 bars, or 630kg, of heroin into the country from 2009 until the date of his arrest. He sold the heroin to other drug-distribution networks.

The police said a large number of people were involved in Tang's network, and most of them were his immediate family and relatives. The police are currently tracking down those who managed to flee and go into hiding.