Vietnam Police Warn Online Shoppers of Drug Trafficking via Parcel Services

Vietnamese police have warned that criminal groups are increasingly using postal, courier and gig‑economy delivery services to smuggle illegal drugs. Investigations across the country have uncovered numerous cases in which traffickers conceal narcotics inside ordinary parcels – such as food, cosmetics, clothing, electronics, e‑cigarettes, supplements and children’s toys – and ship them through standard logistics channels. The schemes rely on social‑media platforms, encrypted messaging apps and e‑commerce sites to arrange sales, then use false sender information, unregistered phone numbers and public drop‑off points to avoid detection.

Authorities advise courier companies and the public to verify sender and receiver details, watch for unusually high shipping fees, multiple small packages, odd packaging layers or strange odors, and to report any suspicious parcels immediately. The police urge online shoppers and delivery workers not to accept or transport parcels of uncertain origin and to cooperate fully with investigations to prevent becoming unwitting links in the drug‑trafficking chain.