DRUG BUST THREATENS AUSTRALIA-VIETNAM RELATIONS

AN Australian woman accused of drug smuggling is facing the possible death
penalty in Vietnam in a case which could strain diplomatic relations
between Canberra and Hanoi.

The woman, 42-year old Le My Linh, was arrested last Saturday at Ho Chi
Minh's international airport as she was preparing to board a flight to Sydney.

Vietnamese officials alleged Le was carrying 880gm of heroin when detained
and was possibly part of a drugs trafficking ring linked to South East
Asia's notorious Golden Triangle drug producing region.

Under Vietnam's tough anti-narcotics laws, possessing, trading or
trafficking more than 100gm of heroin or five kilograms of opium is
punishable by death.

Australian consular officials are waiting to receive clearance to interview
Le after making application through Vietnam's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Ho Chi Minh City sources monitoring the case said it was feared that if Le
was to receive the death penalty it could threaten Australian-Vietnam
relations.

"That is the concern (Le would face capital punishment)," the sources said,
adding that Australian officials "were treating this case with a bit of
priority."

Australia is a major aid donor to Vietnam with total assistance of around
$70 million a year, making Vietnam the third-largest recipient of
development assistance from Australia.

Hanoi-based officials said Canberra was likely to closely monitor Le's case
in a bid to prevent any death sentence being carried out.

The fears arise after Vietnam executed a Vietnamese-Canadian woman, Nguyen
Thi Hiep, early last year after she and her elderly mother, Tran Thi Cam,
were arrested in 1996 on drug smuggling charges.

The execution of Ms Nguyen by firing squad triggered a diplomatic uproar
between Canada and Vietnam, and led to Ottawa imposing sanctions on Vietnam.

Meanwhile Le remains in detention in Ho Chi Min City after being taken to
the Public Security Ministry's Drug Prevention and Fighting Department.
Court hearings are not expected to start until early next year.

The Vietnam News Agency reported Le had told authorities she was to receive
$57,600 to take the heroin to Australia after taking delivery in Ho Chi
Minh City.

Her arrest was part of joint investigations between Vietnamese authorities
and Australian Federal Police which have stepped up efforts against drug
gangs operating out of Vietnam, source of about 70 per cent of illegal
heroin in Australia.

- -AAP