Drug trafficking cousins ​​get 39 years in prison

(Baonghean.vn)- My cousin was the one who initiated the drug trade, and I was the one who actively practiced it. Although the price was not yet set, they were afraid that if they brought the drugs home, they would be discovered, so they both agreed to sell and were arrested.

On August 31, 2017, the Provincial People's Court held a first-instance criminal trial for "Illegal drug trafficking" against Tho Ba De (born in 1980) and Va Ba Po (born in 1988), both residing in Tri Le commune, Que Phong district.

The two defendants Tho Ba De and Ba Po at the trial. Photo by Nhu Binh.

According to the indictment, at around 9:00 a.m. on April 1, 2017, Tho Ba De was ordered by a person named Tuan (unknown background and specific identity). De said that when the drugs were available, he would call Tuan to pick up the goods. At around 4:00 p.m. on the same day, De went to Va Ba Po's house (De's cousin) to inform Tuan about the business, telling Po to call a Laotian to bring the goods to sell.

On the afternoon of April 1, after receiving heroin and opium from the Laotians, De called Tuan and made an appointment for delivery at 2:00 p.m. on July 2 at the Doc Chuoi area. The two sides agreed that 1 heroin cake cost 150 million VND, and 1,000 synthetic drug pills (5 packages) cost 30 million VND.

At the appointed time, Tho Ba De and Va Ba Po brought heroin and opium to Doc Chuoi area. Tuan complained that the goods were of poor quality and only agreed to buy all the goods for 130 million. Afraid that if they brought the drugs home, they would be discovered, De and Po agreed to sell at this price.

While the two were transacting, they were caught red-handed by the anti-drug police force. Tuan and his companion escaped.

The appraisal results showed that the white powder seized from Tho Ba De and Va Ba Po was heroin weighing 356.88 grams; the colored tablet samples were synthetic drugs (Methamphetamine), with a total weight of 93.21 grams.

The case is of a particularly serious nature, negatively affecting social order and safety. In this case, Tho Ba De initiated the drug trafficking; Ba Po actively practiced it. During the investigation as well as at the trial, the defendants confessed their crimes.

Considering the aggravating and mitigating circumstances, and the roles of each defendant, the panel sentenced Tho Ba De to 20 years in prison, and Ba Po to 19 years in prison for the crime of "Illegal drug trafficking".

Nhu Binh