HANOI, Sept 8 (Reuter) Police arrested a total of 2,578 people in a
nationwide crackdown on drug crimes last month, the official Vietnam
News Agency (VNA) said on Monday.

VNA said more than 1,300 drugrelated cases were uncovered, with 186.2
kg (410 lb) of opium, 1.7 kg (3.8 lb) of heroin and 23.5 kg (51.8 lb) of
marijuana seized between August 1 and September 1. ``The police are
spearheading a drug fight aimed at school pupils and students in
September,'' VNA said.

Last month the government set up a National Drug Committee to boost its
drive against trafficking and abuse of illegal narcotics.

Vietnam's long land border and coastline makes the country an easy transit
route for traffickers from the opium poppygrowing areas of Laos and Burma.

There was no word on the Hanoi street value of the seized drugs. But the
heroin alone would sell at wholesale prices in New York for about $1.2
million.

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