10 years in prison for repeat offender.

(Baonghean.vn) - Having a prior conviction for illegal drug trafficking, and having only recently been released from prison, Luong Van Thao has committed another crime.

On December 17th, the Nghe An Provincial People's Court held a first-instance criminal trial against Luong Van Thao (born in 1983), residing in Quang Phong commune, Que Phong district, for the crime of illegally trading narcotics.

Defendant Luong Van Thao in court.

According to the indictment, at 9 PM on August 1, 2015, at the Tan Dong guesthouse in Le Loi ward (Vinh city), a task force from the Anti-Drug Police Department of Nghe An province caught Luong Van Thao red-handed while illegally selling narcotics.

During the investigation, Thào confessed that on July 27, 2015, while he was at home in Quế Phong district, he received a phone call from a man named Tuấn (whose address was unknown). This man ordered a block of heroin for 25 million VND. Thào agreed and arranged to deliver the goods three days later in Vinh City.

Later, Thào called a Lao national to order heroin. On July 31st, Thào contacted this Lao national again and, carrying 5 million VND, went to the meeting point in the forest in Mường Nọc commune (Quế Phong district) to meet the Lao national and receive the drugs.

At 9:00 AM on August 1st, Thào brought the package of drugs to Vinh City and contacted Tuấn to sell it. Tuấn told Thào to wait because he was on his way from Ho Chi Minh City to Vinh. Thào rented a room at the Tân Đồng guesthouse in Lê Lợi ward to wait for Tuấn to arrive for the transaction.

At 9 PM on August 1st, Thào and Tuấn were caught by police while trading drugs at a motel. The man named Tuấn quickly fled. The forensic examination of the seized evidence – a package of white powder found at the scene – by the Criminal Technical Department of the Nghe An Provincial Police confirmed it was heroin weighing 33.7g.

At the trial, Luong Van Thao confessed to the crimes as charged by the Prosecutor's Office.

In 2008, Luong Van Thao was sentenced to 7 years in prison by the People's Court of Tuong Duong District for illegally trafficking narcotics. After serving his sentence, he was released from prison in 2013 but the defendant returned to his old ways.

Considering the aggravating and mitigating circumstances, at the conclusion of the trial, the panel of judges sentenced the defendant Luong Van Thao to 10 years in prison.

Phuong Nguyen