A Nigerian national has been arrested in Vietnam after authorities allegedly found 2kg of suspected crystal methamphetamine and two suspected bricks of heroin concealed in a consignment from Laos.

VietnamPlus reported on Monday that the drugs were discovered at the Lao Bao International Border Gate in Quang Tri Province after customs officers detected suspicious images in a package during a routine scan.

The incident reportedly occurred at about 8:30pm on August 5, while customs officials were inspecting vehicles entering Vietnam from Laos through the border gate.

“Customs officers detected suspicious images in a consigned package using scanning equipment,” the report stated.

A subsequent physical inspection allegedly revealed that the suspected drugs had been hidden inside electric water heaters and electronic components being used to disguise the contents.

The discovery prompted authorities to launch an investigation into suspected transnational drug trafficking.

The Customs Sub-Department of Region IX assigned its customs control team to lead the investigation, working with the Lao Bao International Border Gate customs branch, the drug-related crimes investigation police division under the Quang Tri Police, the anti-smuggling investigation sub-department and the provincial Border Guard.

The agencies reportedly worked together to identify and locate the intended recipient of the consignment.

After tracing the package across several locations, law enforcement officers arrested Izuchukwu Calistus Odionye, a Nigerian national born in 1983, on August 9 in Ho Chi Minh City while he was allegedly receiving the package.

The suspect reportedly admitted to investigators that the package contained drugs.

According to the report, Odionye told investigators that he had been hired to receive the consignment in Ho Chi Minh City and transport it to Hanoi.

Vietnamese authorities have since expanded the investigation as they seek to identify other individuals allegedly connected to the case.

“The investigation has been expanded to identify other people involved,” the report added.