Former police major involved in transnational drug trafficking faces death penalty

On the morning of July 7, the People's Court of Nghe An province held a trial of 15 defendants charged with illegal drug trafficking. The defendants residing in Ho Chi Minh City include: Tong Kim Son (48 years old, from Nghe An), Vo Van Quy (42 years old); Pham Nhu Hai (42 years old, from Bac Giang), Huynh Le Khanh (37 years old), Chau Thong Cuong (52 years old), Nguyen Chi Cuong (52 years old), Nguyen Hang Ni (31 years old, from Ca Mau) and Thai Vi Dan (46 years old).

The defendants: Cao Xuan Thuy (30 years old), Dao Duy Thuong (32 years old), Duong The Anh (41 years old), Duong Hong Nhat (34 years old), Nguyen Van Thinh (46 years old), all residing in Nghe An province.The two defendants Va Nhia Ly (28 years old) and Cu Vu (27 years old) are both Lao nationals.

Defendants at trial. Photo: Tran Vu

This is a particularly serious drug trafficking case involving a large amount of drugs, occurring over a long period of time, with many defendants involved, including foreigners. The defendants set up a network to illegally transport drugs from abroad into Vietnam through many provinces and cities using sophisticated methods.

According to the indictment, Thuy bought drugs from foreigners and hid the "goods" in fruit boxes. Then, Thuy brought the drugs to Vinh City (Nghe An) to sell to Anh and Nhat. After buying the drugs, Anh and Nhat sold them to Son or Thuy and Thuong, then put them in fruit boxes transported by car from Nghe An to Ho Chi Minh City for Son and Quy to consume. At that time, Vo Van Quy was a former police major.

On April 10, 2018, in Ho Chi Minh City, when Son received the fruit box sent by Thuy and Thuong, he was discovered and caught red-handed by the Ministry of Public Security's Investigation Police Department. The evidence seized in the fruit box was nearly 4.9 kg of Methamphetamine.

Investigation results show that from the end of 2017 to April 2018, 15 defendants illegally bought and sold 1.39 kg of heroin, 2.9 kg of Methamphetamine, earning an illegal profit of more than 2.6 billion VND. In addition, the defendants also illegally stored drugs, of which Nhat stored 49.434 grams of Ketamine, 8.621 grams of marijuana; Thuong stored 5.885 grams of Methamphetamine and 2.837 grams of Methamphetamine twice; Hai stored 0.5084 grams of Methamphetamine.

The three defendants Cao Xuan Thuy, Tong Kim Son, and Vo Van Quy were prosecuted for "Illegal drug trafficking" with the highest penalty being the death penalty.

The Supreme People's Procuracy's indictment against the 15 defendants is 42 pages long. Dozens of lawyers participated in defending the defendants.

This trial is expected to take place over 3 days, July 7-10.