Police in the northern mountainous province of Son La arrested a four-member drug gang armed with a gun and a grenade on October 1, confiscating 161 heroin cakes in Vietnam’s largest illegal drug haul so far.

Police officers also impounded more than 2,300 USD in cash, two cars and eight cell phones.

Since late September, the provincial police has arrested 10 drug dealers, seizing a total of 210 heroin cakes, 20,000 methamphetamine tablets and 10 guns.

Vietnam upholds some of the world's toughest anti-drug laws. The possession of more than 600g of heroin or more than 20kg of opium is punishable by death.-VNA