Couple 'take each other' to jail for drug offenses.
Both Binh and Huyen had been married before getting together. In that relationship, instead of working hard together to raise their children, they became involved with drugs. Notably, Huyen even personally took her lover to buy drugs, which ultimately led to both of them ending up in prison.
"Birds of a feather flock together."
The People's Court of Nghe An province recently held a first-instance trial to hear the case against defendants Truong Xuan Binh (born in 1978), residing in Nghia Hong commune, Nghia Dan district, and Lo Thi Huyen (born in 1978), residing in Kim Son town, Que Phong district, for the crime of "Illegal possession of narcotics." Defendant Quang Van Luan (born in 1993), residing in Kim Son town, was prosecuted separately for the crime of "Illegal trafficking of narcotics."
Truong Xuan Binh is a long-time drug addict. He has a bad criminal record, having previously been sentenced by the Nghia Dan District People's Court to 8 months in prison for "theft" and 10 months in prison for "receiving stolen property," for a combined sentence of 18 months. After serving time in prison, Binh returned to his hometown.
Instead of working hard to support his common-law wife and teenage daughter, Binh became deeply addicted to drugs. His addiction shattered his family life and depleted their finances. In 2019, his common-law wife passed away. That same year, Binh was admitted to a compulsory drug rehabilitation center. From then on, his young daughter, born in 2010, had to rely on her grandparents.
Despite undergoing mandatory drug rehabilitation, Binh couldn't break free from heroin after returning home. He relapsed into his addiction, immersing himself in the "white smoke" (heroin) despite his family's pleas. His addiction led him to squander all his earnings on drugs. To obtain his daily supply, he befriended Lo Thi Huyen, and they subsequently developed a romantic relationship.
Huyen is a widow raising two children alone. She had previously served a two-year prison sentence for "theft of socialist property." After completing her sentence, Huyen returned to live with her children. Following her marital troubles, she began a relationship with Binh. However, this relationship led to her legal troubles when Huyen became the one who sourced drugs for her lover.
According to the indictment, in late August 2023, Huyen was asked by Binh to find someone to buy drugs for personal use. Knowing that Quang Van Luan was a drug addict, Huyen contacted him. Huyen then personally took her boyfriend to meet Luan. At Luan's house, after discussions, Binh ordered 5 packets of methamphetamine and 2 grams of heroin, and Luan quoted a price of 20 million VND. After the exchange, the couple left to await news from Luan.
On September 7, 2023, Binh drove to Luan's house to give him money to buy drugs. After receiving the money, Luan went to a hilly area in Muong Ngoc commune, Que Phong district, to buy drugs from an unidentified man for 18 million VND. After being notified that the drugs were ready, Binh and Huyen went to Luan's house to pick them up.
Early the next morning, as Binh and Huyen were on their way back from Tan Lac town, Quy Chau district, carrying drugs, they received a signal from the police to stop. At this point, Binh drove away, but stopped about 15 minutes later, intending to throw away the drugs to dispose of them, but was discovered by the police.
Authorities determined that Truong Xuan Binh and Lo Thi Huyen are criminally liable for possessing over 106 grams of narcotics. Meanwhile, Quang Van Luan is criminally liable for buying and selling over 106 grams of narcotics.
Late repentance
Both Binh and Huyen were brought to trial for the crime of illegally possessing narcotics. At the trial, both admitted to the crime. Defendant Binh confessed to being a long-time drug addict who had previously undergone compulsory rehabilitation. When he relapsed, in order to obtain drugs, Binh gathered his savings to buy narcotics.
When questioned by the court about the more than 20 million VND used to buy drugs, Binh claimed he obtained it from working as a rubber tapper for his mother. He also stated that due to his severe drug addiction, he needed to buy 300,000 to 400,000 VND worth of drugs daily. Binh further justified his heavy drug use by saying he needed the "strength to work in the forest."
The male defendant appeared quite calm until his young child was mentioned. He expressed remorse for not fulfilling his responsibilities as a father. Since his mother's death and his imprisonment, his young child had been left to rely on her grandparents, lacking emotional support. On the day of her father's trial, the little girl also came to court with relatives. As soon as she saw her father, she burst into tears.
Huyen, an accomplice of Binh, also admitted to illegally possessing narcotics. Huyen testified that she knew Luan was an addict and contacted him to find drugs for her boyfriend. In this case, Huyen acted as a go-between for Binh. Huyen was in the car while Binh drove to pick up the drugs. When she spotted the police, she panicked and urged her boyfriend to throw the drugs away, but they were discovered. At the trial, the defendant showed remorse and asked the court to consider mitigating her sentence so she could return to her children sooner.
Accused and tried for the crime of illegal drug trafficking, defendant Quang Van Luan admitted to all his criminal acts at the trial. Luan is a drug addict who had previously undergone compulsory rehabilitation. Quang Van Luan had also previously served a 2-year prison sentence for illegal drug trafficking.
In response to questions from the panel of judges, the defendant confessed to buying the drugs from an unknown individual. After purchasing the drugs, the defendant took out two ecstasy pills and hid them on his person with the intention of reselling them.
At the trial, Luan stated that he was in poor health due to having HIV for the past 10 years. In his final statement before the court adjourned to deliberate, the defendant Luan pleaded, "The court should be lenient so that I don't have to die in prison." After saying this, Luan bowed his head and wiped his face with his hand.
Then Luận stated that since his detention, his mother has been sending him medicine every month. Luận expressed regret at having contracted a serious illness and then becoming entangled in legal troubles. He hoped to receive leniency from the law so that he could return to the embrace of his family and loved ones soon.
The court determined that the defendants' actions were dangerous to society and violated the law. After considering the role of each defendant in the case, the court sentenced Quang Van Luan to 20 years in prison for illegally trading narcotics. Regarding the crime of illegally possessing narcotics, defendant Truong Xuan Binh received a 15-year prison sentence, and defendant Lo Thi Huyen was sentenced to 10 years in prison.
The three defendants each had different circumstances, but because they were all involved with drugs, they all had to pay the price with years in prison. This is also a lesson, a wake-up call for anyone involved in the illegal possession and sale of drugs: sooner or later, they will have to pay the price!
