15 years in prison for drug trafficker

On August 23, Nghe An Provincial People's Court opened a first-instance criminal trial of defendant Luong Pho Tuyet (born 1987), residing in Keng Du commune, Ky Son district, for the crime of "Illegal drug trafficking".

Defendant Luong Pho Tuyet in court. Photo: Phuong Thao

According to the indictment, on December 3, 2017, two men, one of whom named Tinh, met Tuyet to buy drugs. On March 8, 2018, Tinh continued to call Tuyet to buy two packages of heroin for 12 million VND. After that, Tuyet met another person in Keng Du commune and bought two packages of heroin for 8 million VND.

Having bought the drugs, Tuyet called Tinh to make an appointment to meet on the afternoon of March 9, 2018 in Huoi Tu commune, Ky Son district. As scheduled, Tinh sat in a black car without a license plate to meet Tuyet. When Tuyet got into the car and was about to deliver the goods, she was discovered by the border guards. Panicked, Tuyet threw 2 packages of opium onto the floor of the car. Tuyet was arrested shortly after. Taking advantage of the gap, Tinh and the driver escaped.

In court, defendant Luong Pho Tuyet confessed that because of the 4 million VND profit, she bought and sold drugs, even though she knew it was illegal. Considering the entire case, the panel sentenced the defendant to 15 years in prison for the above-mentioned act.