General Vilay Lakhamfong, the Deputy Chief of Government and Minister of Public Security noted that as part of the ministry’s efforts to combat drug trafficking, 5,168 individuals were arrested, including 199 foreigners. Authorities seized nearly 381 kilograms of heroin and over 81 million amphetamine pills.

In addition, more than 4,800 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine, 84.86 kilograms of opium, almost 3,600 kilograms of cannabis, and more than 10,000 kilograms of other powdered drug mixtures and drug-related items were confiscated. These items included 77 automobiles, 480 motorcycles, 10 weapons, and 1,677 bullets.

Vilay also reported that during investigations aimed at illegal opium cultivation in nine northern and central provinces, authorities detected over 5,800 hectares of opium poppy plantations, of which 126 hectares were destroyed.

Currently, 14 drug rehabilitation and treatment centers are operating in Laos, where 5,132 people have been treated this year, with 2,513 of them having already returned home.

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