The 95-day and 95-night escape of the drug lord.

Escape

On August 16, 2017, through professional investigative methods, law enforcement officers apprehended a drug trafficking ring consisting of: Le Duc Giang (born in 1993) residing in Do Thanh commune, Yen Thanh district; Pham Quang Tien (born in 1992) residing in Dien Phuc commune, Dien Chau district; Cao Tuan Tu (born in 1985) residing in Dien Hoa commune, Dien Chau district; and Le Van Tu (born in 1994) residing in Do Thanh commune, Yen Thanh district. The seized evidence included 6 sacks of marijuana (weighing 99 kg) and 1 bag of methamphetamine and ecstasy (weighing over 3.1 kg). At the time, Giang even brought his wife and 10-month-old child along to evade detection by law enforcement.

Significantly, according to the suspects' statements, Le Duc Giang was actually just one of the hired hands, a link in the drug trafficking ring from Laos to Vietnam, and was on his way to transport the drugs to the northern provinces. All the suspects admitted to receiving instructions from the "ringleader" and had no specific knowledge of the route. At this point, investigators determined that the arrest of the ring had inadvertently alerted Nguyen Anh Thao (born in 1983, from Hung Yen province), the person all four suspects claimed to have met, allowing him to escape. Immediately, investigators gathered all information about Nguyen Anh Thao. He was identified as the ringleader of the large-scale marijuana and methamphetamine trafficking ring.

Reviewing the case file, investigators determined that Nguyen Anh Thao had established a large-scale illegal drug trafficking and transportation ring from Laos to Vietnam. This drug kingpin recruited many individuals to transport "white powder" (heroin) from Laos to Nghe An province for distribution to northern provinces. Enticed by the enormous profits from drug trafficking, many quickly became crucial links in the drug trafficking network led by Thao.

In another development, upon hearing that all four of his accomplices had been apprehended, Nguyen Anh Thao quickly fled using extremely cunning methods. He constantly changed locations, moving his residence across provinces and cities from North to South to avoid being caught by law enforcement.

After a period of unsuccessful searching for the suspect, on December 11, 2017, the Narcotics Crime Investigation Department of the Nghe An Provincial Police issued Wanted Notice No. 01 against Nguyen Anh Thao for the crime of illegally transporting narcotics.

Determined to successfully apprehend the extremely dangerous fugitive Nguyen Anh Thao, special investigation codenamed 668T was established. The investigation team concentrated its forces on capturing this suspect. The detectives endured many hardships and difficulties over a long period, from persistently monitoring the area to closely tracking all of the suspect's movements. No matter the time or place, whenever they received a tip, they quickly set out to verify it; from the suspect's birthplace in Thanh Tri, Hanoi, to provinces and cities from North to South.

Caught in the net

During the investigation, the Narcotics Crime Investigation Department of the Nghe An Provincial Police determined that the suspect, after fleeing, was very cunning in moving around, constantly changing residences across provinces and cities from North to South, including Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, Hanoi, etc. In particular, with his attractive appearance, smooth talking skills, and willingness to spend money, Thao dated many young, beautiful girls at once. He only stayed in each location for a few days, using one girl as a cover, renting rooms or houses to avoid being exposed.

Thanks to effective intelligence gathering from the grassroots and the use of sharp investigative techniques, by February 2018, detectives discovered that Thao was staying with a woman in Long Bien District, Hanoi. Immediately, the special task force dispatched a team to Hanoi to coordinate with the Long Bien District Police in conducting an investigation and search. However, the suspect was very cunning and had extensive connections, so she sensed their presence and quickly escaped.

However, with a resolute spirit to fight crime to the very end, the detectives in the special task force remained undeterred, determined to investigate, verify, and monitor all movements of the suspect, not allowing him any opportunity to evade the law.

Continuing their persistent investigation and searching for clues about the suspect, on March 14, 2018, the detectives obtained crucial information: Thao was currently located on Thuy Khue Street, Buoi Ward, Tay Ho District, Hanoi, about a dozen kilometers from Long Bien District.

Recognizing that the opportune moment to crack the case had arrived, on the morning of March 15, 2018, a task force immediately set off, arriving in Tay Ho District. In coordination with the Buoi Ward Police and the Tay Ho District Police, they focused their investigation and search for the suspect throughout the ward. Using professional investigative techniques, the detectives quickly identified the specific location where Nguyen Anh Thao was hiding. It was house number 559 on Thuy Khue Street, a two-frontage house with multiple rooms, rented by a young woman who was currently living with Thao.

Through surveillance, authorities discovered that Thao was extremely vigilant, staying confined to a separate room all day, and the house was always locked and bolted. Even for meals, Thao wouldn't leave the house, instead ordering food to be delivered.

Because the house was always locked and there were surveillance cameras outside, it was extremely difficult for the investigators to approach the target. Given this situation, the special task force devised a detailed plan to avoid any mistakes. Accordingly, the task force deployed personnel to lie in ambush around the house, waiting for the opportune moment to successfully apprehend the suspect.

After hours of persistent surveillance, at approximately 7 PM on March 15th, waiting for the woman to open the door to get food, the police immediately raided the house, subduing and arresting the suspect while he was hiding in a separate room. Nguyen Anh Thao was officially arrested 95 days after a warrant was issued for his arrest.

Immediately afterwards, the task force escorted the suspect to the investigative agency's headquarters for questioning and clarification. There, with compelling evidence from the investigators, the suspect admitted to all his criminal acts. In addition, Thao confessed that since fleeing, he had regularly monitored information on various media outlets to keep abreast of all information related to the investigation and arrest of drug trafficking rings and individuals by the police force, especially those involved in the drug ring he had established.

Confession

On the morning of August 22, 2018, the People's Court of Nghe An province opened a first-instance criminal trial to hear the case against defendant Nguyen Anh Thao (born in 1983, from Hung Yen province) for the crimes of "Illegal trafficking of narcotics" and "Illegal possession of narcotics".

Thảo confessed that she hired Tiến and Tú to transport two sacks of marijuana, weighing approximately 33 kg, from Cầu Treo Border Gate (Hà Tĩnh) to Hanoi for resale. Thảo paid Tiến and Tú 55 million VND for the transportation.

On August 16, 2017, Thao hired Tu and Tien to travel from Dien Chau to Cau Treo Border Gate to receive six sacks of marijuana weighing 99 kg and 3126.8 grams from a Lao national.drugOn the same day, Thao hired Giang and Tu to transport the drugs that Tien received from the Cau Treo border gate to Hanoi, paying them 50 million VND as payment. At 11:45 AM on August 16, 2017, when Giang's vehicle reached Thanh Chuong district, Nghe An province, they were caught red-handed by the police.

After Giang and Tu were arrested, Tien and Tu went to the police investigation agency headquarters to confess and admit their crimes. Nguyen Anh Thao fled immediately afterward. However, at the time of his arrest, Thao was also caught red-handed in possession of 4.83 grams of narcotics. Therefore, Nguyen Anh Thao committed the additional crime of illegal possession of narcotics.

In court, defendant Nguyen Anh Thao admitted to all the crimes. The panel of judges determined that this was a particularly serious case, and the defendant's actions had a negative impact on society; therefore, the defendant's actions must be punished severely. After considering all aspects of the case and taking into account several mitigating circumstances, the panel of judges sentenced the defendant to life imprisonment for the two aforementioned crimes.