Authorities in Vinh Luong Commune, Nha Trang City (Khanh Hoa Province), have identified the individuals who leased land to a transnational drug ring that operated a massive ketamine production facility.

Speaking to VietNamNet, a local government official confirmed that the commune had conducted a full inspection of the area recently raided by law enforcement for illicit ketamine production.

Initial findings show that all hillside plots used in the operation have clearly identified legal owners. Authorities have interviewed relevant parties, reviewed lease contracts, and are finalizing a report for submission to Nha Trang’s municipal government.

The main lab, a more than 1,000m² structure built near the northern cemetery, was found to be an unlicensed construction. Local authorities have filed a violation report and are reviewing next steps for legal action.

The entire lab site remains under tight lockdown, with police maintaining round-the-clock surveillance. A nearby house at No. 47, Cat Loi Hamlet - where some of the chemical processing equipment was located - has also been secured and is under investigation.

This operation stems from Special Case 199D, initiated by the Drug Crime Investigation Police Department (C04) under the Ministry of Public Security. In the early hours of March 22, nearly 200 officers simultaneously raided three sites in Nha Trang, seizing a total of 1.4 tons of high-purity ketamine and nearly 80 tons of chemical precursors.

Eleven suspects have been arrested, including four Chinese nationals, three from Taiwan (China), and four Vietnamese citizens. The alleged ringleader was identified as Truong Xuan Minh, a 51-year-old Taiwanese national.

Investigators say Minh entered Vietnam in 2021 under the guise of running a tropical fish business. Once in Khanh Hoa, he partnered with Doan Van Hung, a 42-year-old Vietnamese man, to scout discreet locations suitable for a clandestine drug lab.

In November 2024, Minh leased the main 1,000m² plot near a remote cemetery in Vinh Luong Commune. The area was chosen for its seclusion and limited access. The group then rented an additional 300m² plot approximately 3 kilometers away, used to store raw materials, chemicals, and equipment.

To evade detection, the suspects divided the manufacturing process into two separate stages across the different sites. After months of surveillance, authorities decided to move in and dismantle the operation.

According to C04, this case represents the largest illegal drug production ring ever uncovered in Vietnam.