Lithuanian man arrested in Laos with 15 kg of heroin bound for Vietnam

A 46-year-old Lithuanian man was arrested at an airport in northern Laos after authorities intercepted him attempting to smuggle 15 kilograms of heroin on a flight to Vietnam.

The suspect, identified as Pika Kestutis, was detained at Luang Prabang International Airport during a coordinated sting operation on July 11 between Luang Prabang police, the Vietnamese Ministry of Public Security's drug crime investigation unit, and Vietnamese officers stationed in Laos, according to the Cong An Nhan Dan (People's Police) newspaper.

Pika Kestutis (L) stands with a Lao police officer after he was arrested along with the seized heroin. Photo by Dien Bien police

During initial questioning, Kestutis admitted that he was transporting the narcotics from Luang Prabang to Hanoi for distribution, VTV reported, citing police from northern Vietnam's Dien Bien Province who joined the operation.

Vietnamese and Lao authorities are continuing their joint investigation to identify and prosecute other individuals connected to the trafficking network.