Australian pair accused of drug smuggling in Vietnam
Date October 31, 2013
Two Australians have been arrested in Vietnam for heroin smuggling, police say, a crime punishable by death in the communist state.
The pair, who have not been named, were caught with 3.5 kilograms of heroin hidden in their luggage at Ho Chi Minh City airport, a policeman with the anti-drug squad said on Wednesday.
Further details about the suspects, aged 31 and 24, have not been released.
The heroin was hidden in 11 packages treated to avoid detection by sniffer dogs, the state-run Thanh Nien newspaper reported.
The Australian embassy in Hanoi did not respond to a request for comment.
Vietnam takes a hard line on drugs and anyone found guilty of attempting to smuggle more than 600 grams of heroin or cocaine can face the death penalty.
AAP