Just past six in the evening on September 12, Boten police received a tip-off about some suspicious activity involving contraband. When officers arrived at the scene, they caught nine people huddled around two six-wheel trucks, busily transferring cargo from a Chinese-plated vehicle to a Lao-plated one. Among the group of nine were five Chinese nationals and four locals, including one woman.
Police immediately ordered an inspection of the cargo, and the search uncovered a massive haul of e-cigarettes hidden inside. Packed tightly into large and small boxes and mixed in with regular goods to evade detection, the contraband totaled more than 35,000 pieces. The suspects were detained on the spot, and the trucks and their cargo were entirely impounded.
Local police stated that the case violates Lao penal laws regarding the transport of psychoactive and mood-altering substances. The suspects have been handed over to the Luang Namtha Provincial Police Department for further questioning, and authorities are working to trace the supply chain. Doing business here means sticking to the straight and narrow; trying to smuggle contraband will get you caught in no time.
