Police in the northern Vietnamese province of Phu Tho have asked prosecutors to charge 16 people for smuggling over 1,100 tons of tobacco leaves from China into Vietnam.

  

Investigators allege that ringleader Tran Thi Tuyet, 48, was responsible for smuggling 23,432 parcels of tobacco leaves which amount to more than 1,100 tons from Chinese people.

 

She then hired people to bring the goods by river and by road to Vietnam.

 

The ring was busted last May, police said, adding that they transported more than 932 tons worth over VND35 billion (US$1.79 million) and sold them in northern provinces of Cao Bang, Lang Son and Bac Giang as well as Hanoi.