Vietnam police seize 300 kgs of meth

HANOI: A massive haul of nearly 300 kilograms of methamphetamine pills was seized in central Vietnam on Sunday, police said, the latest major drug bust in a country where the use of synthetic narcotics is on the rise.

While Vietnam has some of the toughest drug laws in the world, it remains a popular transport hub and destination market for narcotics smuggled in from the notorious "Golden Triangle" -- a lawless border zone that straddles Laos, Myanmar and Thailand. Opium and heroin have long been the drugs of choice among older users, but lab-made powders and pills -- like methamphetamine in particular -- are gaining popularity among young Vietnamese. The latest bust occurred in Ha Tinh province early Sunday around 1:00 am, when police, border defense forces and custom authorities found the drugs inside a van with a Lao license plate, according to a report.