Two inmates are back in jail for drug trafficking

On September 21, Nghe An Provincial People's Court opened a first-instance criminal trial of defendants Tran Phuc Khoi (born 1979), residing in Ha Huy Tap ward (Vinh city) and Nguyen Ngoc Tuan (born 1983), residing in Ben Thuy ward (Vinh city) for the crime of "Illegal drug trafficking".

Both defendants Khoi and Tuan have bad personal records. While Khoi has 3 previous convictions for "Illegal possession of narcotics", Tuan has been in court 5 times for the crimes of "Theft of property", "Illegal possession of narcotics"...

Many times "eating prison food" but this couple still plunged into drug trafficking. According to the case file, on November 6, 2020, Khoi received a phone call to orderecstasyof a guest.

Two defendants at trial. Photo: Tran Vu

Because they had no “goods”, Khoi and Tuan discussed buying and selling drugs to customers. They agreed that Tuan would find and buy drugs, and Khoi would contact the customers.

Through his previous acquaintance, Tuan was able to buy ecstasy pills without difficulty. The seller agreed to let Tuan buy 500 ecstasy pills on credit for 75 million VND.

On the afternoon of November 9, 2020, Khoi and Tuan met with the drug buyer to discuss the price. The two sides agreed to sell 500 ecstasy pills for 90 million VND.

That same evening, after buying the drugs on credit, Khoi and Tuan traveled by motorbike to Xuan An town, Nghi Xuan district (Ha Tinh). The two sides agreed that Khoi would stay behind to deliver the drugs to the customer, while Tuan would go back to Ben Thuy bridge to wait for the money from selling the drugs.

Following the buyer’s instructions, Khoi took the drugs to a pig farm in Xuan An town. While Khoi was opening the package of drugs, a task force from Nghe An province raided the place for inspection. At that time, Khoi threw the package of drugs away but was discovered by the task force. The seized evidence was more than 218 grams of drugs.

At the same time, Tuan stood at the head of Ben Thuy bridge waiting to receive money from selling drugs but did not see Khoi contact him. After learning that Khoi was arrested by the police, Tuan fled until November 10, 2020, when he turned himself in.

At the trial, the two defendants admitted to their crimes. Both said they bought drugs to sell because they needed money, even though they had been in prison many times before.

Considering the case comprehensively, the People's Court sentenced defendants Tran Phuc Khoi and Nguyen Ngoc Tuan each to 20 years in prison for "Illegal drug trafficking".