Authorities in Da Nang have detained a man trading in American weed, considered an illegal drug, shipped from Ho Chi Minh City.

Tran Quoc Rym (L), 24, is seen standing next to his drugs seized by border soldiers in Da Nang. Tuoi Tre

Border soldiers in Da Nang recently said that they had arrested Tran Quoc Rym, 24, for trafficking 8.5kg of American weed.

Officers caught Rym in the act of receiving 5kg of American weed at a post office in Lien Chieu District. They seized the packets used to store the drugs and VND4 million (US$176) in cash.

During a search of Rym’s house, officials found a further 3.5kg of American weed, one packaging machine and multiple smaller packets used to distribute the drugs.

The suspect admitted that another accomplice had sent the drugs to him from Ho Chi Minh City.

Rym would then distribute them in small packets to junkies in Da Nang and neighbouring Quang Nam Province, he said.

An investigation is underway.

American weed is considered a narcotic in Viet Nam, where drug laws are strictly enforced, with serious offenders given the death penalty.

Under Article 194 of the Vietnamese Penal Code, 20 years of imprisonment, life imprisonment or capital punishment can be given to those who are convicted of illegally stockpiling, transporting, trading or appropriating heroin or cocaine weighing 100 grams or more.

The same penalties can also be handed down to those who commit the same crime in one of the following circumstances: opium resin, marijuana resin or coca plasma weighing five kilograms or more; marijuana leaves, flowers, fruit or coca leaves weighing 75 kilograms or more; dried poppy fruit weighing 600 kilograms or more; fresh poppy fruit weighing 150 kilograms or more; other narcotic substances in solid form weighing 300 grams or more or in liquid form measuring 750 milliliters or more.

(Source: Tuoitrenews)