Cousins ​​'take each other' to jail for drug trafficking

On November 22, Nghe An Provincial People's Court opened the first-instance trial of defendants Truong Duc Anh (born in 1994) and Dang Quang Duy (born in 1995), both residing in Nghia Thanh commune, Nghia Dan district, for the crime of "Illegal drug trafficking"; defendant Le Quang Hung (born in 1995), residing in Quan Bau ward, Vinh city, was prosecuted for the crime of "Illegal possession of drugs".

Duc Anh and Duy are cousins. Around March 2023, they both moved to Hanoi to rent an apartment to live and learn hairdressing. After that, the two colluded to buy and sell drugs twice.

The first time, on the morning of August 4, 2023, Anh was contacted by Le Thi Nhung (born in 1995, residing in Hung Yen province) to order 20 "candy" synthetic drug pills and about 100 grams of ketamine.. Duc Anh agreed and quoted 56 million VND. After that, Anh bought drugs from a motorbike taxi driver for 45 million VND.

On August 7, 2023, Anh gave drugs to Duy so that the young man could sell them to Nhung. Afterwards, Nhung took the drugs to sell to customers at a park in Bac Giang City and was caught red-handed by the police. The investigation agency separated the case of Le Thi Nhung for a separate trial and this defendant received a sentence of 11 years and 9 months in prison.

In addition to the above crimes, Anh also sold drugs to Le Quang Hung. Specifically, on August 10, 2023, Hung called Anh to buy 100 grams of ketamine and 100 synthetic drug pills.

Three days later, Hung transferred 71 million VND to Anh to buy drugs. To have “goods” to sell to customers, Anh bought many drug pills from a man named Vuong (unknown identity and background) for 19 million VND.

That same afternoon, Vuong sent a shipper to deliver the drugs to Anh at the apartment. Because Anh was returning to his hometown to celebrate his father's death anniversary, he asked his cousin Duy to come down and receive the drugs disguised in a glass tea set.

Duy received the “goods” and sent the bus back to Vinh City for Hung. At nearly 10 p.m. the same day, when Hung went to receive the drugs, he was caught red-handed by the police.

Expanding the investigation, the police arrested Dang Quang Duy, and Anh turned himself in to the police. The investigation agency determined that Anh and Duy had bought and sold drugs twice with a total weight of 148 grams. Defendant Le Quang Hung was responsible for possessing more than 71 grams of drugs.

At the trial, the defendants admitted to their crimes. Defendants Anh and Duy said they were cousins ​​and rented a room together to learn hairdressing. However, because of greed, the two defendants decided to traffic drugs together.

After considering the role of each defendant in the case, the panel sentenced Dang Quang Duy and Truong Duc Anh to 20 years in prison each. Defendant Le Quang Hung was sentenced to 10 years for illegal possession of narcotics.