Vietnam nabs Australian couple for drug smuggling

HANOI, July 7 (Reuters) Vietnamese police have arrested two Australian nationals of Vietnamese origin for attempting to smuggle 500 grams of heroin to Australia, state media reported today.

The couple were caught at Tan Son Nhat Airport in Ho Chi Minh City with the heroin stuffed in small rubbing oil containers hidden in eight suitcases, the Cong An Nhan Dan (People's Police) newspaper said.

The man and his wife told police they were hired by another man in Australia to transport the drugs, the report said.

Trafficking of more than 600 grams of heroin is punishable by death or life in jail in Vietnam.

In June, Australian police nabbed a Vietnam Airlines pilot for attempting to carry 500,000 dollar out of Australia to members of a drug trafficking gang in Vietnam.

Last year Vietnam sentenced three Australians of Vietnamese origin to death on heroin trafficking charges. Hanoi later granted clemency to two of the accused after an appeal by Australia, which opposes the death sentence.

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