Andrea Aybar, a Spanish model, expressed deep regret following her arrest in Vietnam on November 9, in the Thu Duc District of Ho Chi Minh City, on charges related to drug use and organization. Aybar, aged 29, was detained under suspicion of storing illegal drugs and facilitating drug use within an apartment.
In a tearful statement to the police, Aybar admitted, “Over the last few days, I’ve been thinking a lot, and I realized my mistake for violating the law and using drugs. I’ve destroyed my career, my life, and my future.” She further expressed that she did not believe she would ever have another chance to rebuild her life.
Aybar, who has lived in Vietnam since childhood, is fluent in English, Vietnamese, and Spanish. She first gained recognition in Vietnam’s modeling scene between 2012 and 2014, appearing in notable films such as “HIT: Hoang Tu Va Lo Lem” (The Prince and Cinderella) and “De Mai Tinh 2” (Let Hoi Decide). However, she has been largely absent from the entertainment industry in recent years.
Aybar’s arrest follows similar actions against other public figures, including Nguyen Trung Hieu, a 35-year-old singer known by his stage name Chi Dan, and social media influencer Truc Phuong, who are both under investigation for allegedly facilitating drug use. In a statement, Hieu also expressed remorse, warning others about the dangers of drug use, saying, “It can destroy your entire life and severely impact everyone around you.”
The arrests are part of a broader investigation by Ho Chi Minh City police into a drug trafficking operation that has been active since March 2023. The operation involved trafficking narcotics through airports, primarily from France to Vietnam. Authorities have dismantled over 500 drug rings, arrested 1,132 suspects, and seized 323.5 kilograms of drugs. The total estimated value of the operation exceeds VND28 trillion (approximately $1.1 billion).
The investigation is ongoing, and authorities continue to take measures to curb the spread of drug-related crimes in Vietnam.
