Policemen and authorities on August 27 announced that they had seized about 35kg of heroin from a drug trafficker in a chase in Lac Son district in the northern province of Hoa Binh on Aug. 26.

The drug trafficker, 47-year-old Ta Van Hung, was shot dead when he refused to lay down his gun and surrender after the long car chase.

According to the police report, Hung had resided in an apartment in Tu Liem district, Hanoi. He was previously part of a gang in Yen The district of his home province of Bac Giang.

Police said they also found four bags containing 800 heroin tablets as well as 20,000 USD and 150 million VND (7,200 USD) in cash.

According to media, police were chasing suspicious-looking Lexus found to be driven by Hung for several hours before he abandoned the vehicle in Lac Son District after setting it on fire.

He then stole a motorbike and drove off with police in pursuit. After further chase, officers managed to head him off and surround him but he refused to surrender, forcing police to pull gunfire.

The Public Security Ministry and other officials of northern Hoa Binh Province provided certificates of recognition to the police involved in the chase and asked that further investigations be conducted to trace the root of the drug ring.-VNA