Ly Huy Khanh, leader of the ring that was making a mixture of ecstasy and mariuana in Ho Chi Minh City

Police in Ho Chi Minh City on Wednesday busted a ring that was producing and selling a mixture of ecstasy and marijuana in the city’s downtown areas.

The police also seized hundreds of ecstasy tablets, many bags of the mixture as well as the tools and machines used. The drugs were distributed across the city districts.

The police in Binh Chanh District were informed by local residents in November of a group providing large amounts of drugs in the city. A special investigation team was set up on Nov.27 and a raid launched Tuesday night.

Ly Huy Khanh, the 34-year-old ring leader was caught at around 1a.m. Wednesday as he sold the potent mixture to addicts in District 1.

Searching his house on De Tham Street, the police found several machines and additives used to make the drug. Khanh’s wife, Ha Thi Tien, 39, was caught later the same day.

Also on Wednesday, the police caught Nguyen Phuoc Hanh, a 53 year old member of the ring, with more than 150 ecstasy tablets he was planning to sell.

Luu Nguyen Ngoc Phuc, 30, and his 27-year-old wife Pham Thi Thu Thuy were found at a hotel in District 8 with 42 ecstasy tablets, eight bags of other drugs, and a China-made taser.

Chau Vinh Tai, 23, was also caught while bringing drugs to the couple at the hotel, where four of the nine rooms were found to accommodate drug addicts.

Initial investigations reveal that the ring was selling the drugs wholesale at VND150,000 (US$8.20) a tablet and retailing it at VND220,000-250,000 each.

The police said they were tracking down the people that supplied materials to the ring.

Source: Thanh Nien