Couple of 'addicted friends' jailed for drugs

On November 29, Nghe An Provincial People's Court opened a first-instance criminal trial to try defendant Lu Van Hoan (born in 1987), residing in Kim Son town, Que Phong district, for the crime of "Illegal drug trafficking"; defendant Vo Sy Hoang (born in 1992), residing in Hoa Hieu ward, Thai Hoa town, for the crime of "Illegal possession of drugs".

Lu Van Hoan and Vo Sy Hoang knew each other and both used drugs.

On January 2, 2021, Hoang called Hoan to order 2 packages.pink sheet, price 10 million VND to use.

Hoang transferred 10 million VND to Hoan. After receiving the money, Hoan sold another gold ring (1-tael type) to buy drugs.

That same afternoon, in a forest area in Tri Le commune, Que Phong district, Hoan bought 6 packages of ecstasy for 14.5 million VND from an unknown person. Hoan would sell 2 packages to Hoang, and keep the rest for later use and to sell for profit.

Two friends were both jailed for drugs. Photo: Tran Vu

Hoan hid the drugs in a sock and went home. However, when he arrived at Chau Hoan commune, Quy Chau district, he was arrested by Nghe An police with more than 118 grams of drugs.

Immediately after that, the police investigation agency detained Vo Sy Hoang in an emergency. In this case, Hoang must bear criminal responsibility for possessing 2 packages of drugs with a total weight of nearly 40 grams.

At the trial, the two defendants testified that they were both drug addicts. Defendant Hoan stated that he sold gold bars to have money to buy drugs to sell. Defendant Hoang stated that he bought drugs to use gradually.

During the trial, the defendants confessed their crimes and showed remorse. Considering the case as a whole, the panel sentenced defendant Lu Van Hoan to 20 years in prison for "Illegal drug trafficking"; defendant Vo Sy Hoang to 6 years in prison for "Illegal drug possession".