Vietnam has uncovered a ring transporting over 9.3 kg of heroin from its northern Son La province to captial Hanoi and northern Ha Tay province, local newspaper People's Army reported Thursday.

Last week, Vietnamese police arrested a ring member named Vang A Chu when he was carrying more than 5.1 kg of heroin. Heroin transported by the 37-year-old man from Son La were sold to some local people who then sold the drug in Hanoi and Ha Tay.

Four months earlier, the police detained another member of the ring named Hoang Van Hoa from Son La when he was carrying 4.2 kg of heroin.

Under Vietnam's laws, anyone possessing, trading or trafficking heroin of 600 grams or above can be sentenced to death or life in prison.

The number of drug addicts in Vietnam surged 56.8 percent to 158,428 in 2005 from 101,036 in 2000, according to a recent national conference.

Source: Xinhua