Former commune chairman jailed for drug trafficking.

On November 21, the People's Court of Nghe An province opened a trial to hear the case against defendants Tong Cu Mua (born in 1983, residing in Bolikhamsai province, Laos) and Tran The Hung (born in 1990, residing in Huong Son commune, Ha Tinh province) for the crime of "Illegal trafficking of narcotics". Defendant Mua Dua Thai (born in 1969, residing in Na Ngoi commune, Nghe An province) was prosecuted for two crimes: Transporting and...Illegal possession of narcotics.

According to the case file, around November 2024, Tong Cu Mua received a phone call from an acquaintance named Cuong (whose identity is unknown) ordering 3 sheets of synthetic drugs. Mua quoted a price of 210 million VND and promised to transport the drugs to Vinh City (formerly). Cuong agreed and paid a deposit of 60 million VND.

On November 20, 2024, Mua contacted Mua Dua Thai (a cousin) to hire him to transport drugs for a fee of 50 million VND. Thai agreed but said he would only transport the drugs to a location on the N5 road (formerly Nghi Loc district) and not into Vinh city for fear of being discovered by the police.

Four days later, upon receiving information that drugs had been smuggled from Laos into Vietnam, Mua immediately called Thai to inform him. After obtaining over 1.7 kg of drugs, Thai transported them to the N5 road area, hid them at a kilometer marker, and then took a photo to show Mua.

Mua contacted the drug buyer, but the buyer said they were busy and couldn't come to pick up the drugs yet. Fearing discovery, Mua called Tran The Hung and persuaded him to come and pick up the drugs to sell. If Mua's buyer took the drugs, Hung would deliver them for a fee of 20 million VND.

On the morning of November 25th, Hung went to the designated location to pick up the drugs. By noon that same day, realizing he was being followed by the police, Hung quickly threw the sack containing the drugs onto the roadside to escape but was apprehended.

Two days later, upon discovering that Tong Cu Mua had entered Vietnam, the police executed an emergency detention order. On November 29th, the police arrested Mua Dua Thai for illegally transporting narcotics. A search of Thai's residence uncovered an additional 7 drug pills.

At the trial, all defendants admitted their crimes. Defendant Thai testified that he had held many positions such as Chairman and Deputy Secretary of Na Ngoi commune, so he understood the law well, but he agreed to transport drugs for hire because he was greedy for money.

The defendants expressed remorse for their crimes and asked the court to consider mitigating circumstances and reduce their sentences.

After a comprehensive review of the case, the panel of judges sentenced the two defendants, Tong Cu Mua and Tran The Hung, to 20 years in prison.

Defendant Mua Dua Thai was sentenced to 16 years in prison for illegally transporting narcotics and 2 years in prison for possessing narcotics; the total sentence requires the defendant to serve 18 years in prison.