How the big ‘Mouse’ was trapped in Vietnam

Police have affirmed that the capture of Phan Huu Hieu, the kingpin behind the large-scale transnational trafficking of narcotics from Laos into Vietnam was the culmination of a trap that was months in the making. Hieu, nicknamed “Mouse” in the drug underworld, and six other accomplices were arrested during the crackdown that seized 59 kilograms of heroin, hundreds of thousands of dollars, two high-end cars, foreign currency and sealed 15 houses and other properties. “This is the biggest heroin seizure we’ve made in Ho Chi Minh City,” an unnamed police officer said. Pham Huu Hieu (in glasses) is arrested by police in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo courtesy of Giao Thong Newspaper Early start Hieu was born into a poor family in the central province of Nghe An. He dropped out of school at a younger age because of difficult family conditions to work for “big names” in the drug trafficking world. Building on his experience of many years, Hieu struck out on his own, expanding his drug trafficking network in HCMC and nearby provinces like Binh Duong, Dong Nai and Tay Ninh, the Voice of Vietnam reported. He also teamed up with notorious drug dealers in Laos to transport a large quantity of narcotics including heroin into Vietnam through several border gates. Very sophisticated and discreet operations had made it difficult for anti-drug forces to investigate. The poor kid from the countryside went on to become a famous and feared figure in the underworld, and his extravagant lifestyle did… [Read full story]