Lovers 'take each other' to jail for drugs

Birds of a feather flock together

The People's Court of Nghe An province has just opened the first instance trial of defendant 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 for the crime of "Illegal trading of narcotics".

Truong Xuan Binh has been a drug addict for many years. This subject has a bad personal history as he was sentenced by the People's Court of Nghia Dan district to 8 months in prison for "Theft of property" and 10 months in prison for "Receiving property obtained by others through crime", the total sentence is 18 months in prison. After a period of living in a "prison food, numbered clothes", Binh returned to his hometown.

Instead of working hard to make up for his unmarried wife and teenage daughter, Binh sank deeper into drugs. Addiction made this man's family life no longer warm, and his economy increasingly depleted. In 2019, Binh's unmarried wife passed away. That same year, Binh was sent to a compulsory drug rehabilitation facility. Since then, Binh's young child born in 2010 has had to depend on his grandparents.

There was a time when he had to go to compulsory drug rehabilitation, but when he returned, Binh still could not break away from the "brown fairy". He still returned to his passion of being immersed in "white smoke" despite his relatives' strong advice. Because of his addiction, Binh spent all his money on drugs. To have a source of drugs for daily use, this subject became friends with Lo Thi Huyen. After that, the two had a romantic relationship with each other.

Huyền is a widow, raising two children alone. She was also once imprisoned for two years for “Theft of Socialist property”. After serving her prison sentence, Huyền returned to live with her children. After her marriage broke down, she had a relationship with Bình. But it was this love affair that landed the widow in trouble with the law when Huyền was the one who sought out drugs for her lover to use.

According to the indictment, at the end of August 2023, Huyen was asked by Binh to find a drug seller to buy drugs for use. Knowing that Quang Van Luan was a drug addict, Huyen contacted this young man. After that, Huyen personally brought her lover to meet Luan. At Luan's house, after discussing, Binh ordered 5 packages of pink phien, 2 taels of heroin and was quoted 20 million VND by Luan. After discussing, the couple left to wait for Luan's report.

On September 7, 2023, Binh drove to Luan's house to give him money to buy drugs. After receiving the money, Luan went to the hill area in Muong Noc commune, Que Phong district to buy drugs from a man (unknown origin) for 18 million VND. After receiving the notification that the "goods" were available, Binh and Huyen went to Luan's house to get the drugs.

Early the next morning, when Binh and Huyen were on their way to Tan Lac town, Quy Chau district, carrying drugs, they received a signal from the police to stop the car. At this time, Binh drove away, about 15 minutes later he stopped, intending to throw away the drugs to disperse them but was discovered by the police.

Authorities determined that Truong Xuan Binh and Lo Thi Huyen must bear criminal responsibility for possessing more than 106 grams of drugs. Meanwhile, Quang Van Luan must bear criminal responsibility for buying and selling more than 106 grams of drugs.

Late Repentance

Both Binh and Huyen were brought to trial for illegal possession of narcotics. At the trial, both Binh and Huyen admitted to their crimes. Defendant Binh confessed to being a long-term drug addict and had undergone compulsory drug rehabilitation. When he relapsed, in order to have drugs to use, Binh pooled his savings to buy drugs.

When questioned by the court about the more than 20 million VND spent on drugs, Binh said he got it from tapping rubber for his mother. The defendant also told the court that because of his severe drug addiction, he had to buy 300,000 to 400,000 VND worth of drugs every day. Binh also justified his drug use to “have the strength to work in the forest”.

The defendant appeared quite calm until he mentioned his young child. Binh said he felt guilty for not fulfilling his responsibilities as a father to his child. Since his mother passed away and his father was in trouble with the law, the young child had to depend on his grandparents and lacked affection. On the day of his father's trial, the little girl also accompanied her relatives to court. As soon as she saw her father, she burst into tears.

Binh's accomplice, defendant Huyen, also admitted to illegally storing drugs. Huyen said that knowing Luan was an addict, she contacted him to help him buy drugs for his lover to use. In this case, Huyen acted as a liaison for Binh. When Binh drove the car to receive the drugs, Huyen was in the car. When she discovered the police, Huyen was scared and urged her lover to throw away the drugs but was discovered. At the trial, the defendant expressed remorse and asked the court to consider reducing her sentence so that she could return to her children soon.

Indicted and tried for the crime of illegal drug trafficking, at the trial, defendant Quang Van Luan also admitted all of his crimes. Luan is a drug addict and has been sent to compulsory drug rehabilitation. Quang Van Luan was also sentenced to 2 years in prison for illegal drug trafficking.

Responding to questions from the Trial Panel, the defendant stated that he had purchased drugs from an unknown person. After purchasing the drugs, the defendant took out two pink pills and hid them on his person with the intention of reselling them.

At the trial, Luan stated that he is currently in poor health due to having been infected with HIV for 10 years. In his final statement before the court deliberated, defendant Luan asked the court to “raise the bar high and strike lightly so that he does not die in prison.” After saying that, Luan lowered his head and raised his hand to wipe his face.

Then Luan said that since being detained, his mother sent him medicine every month to take. Luan expressed regret that he had contracted a serious illness and continued to be in trouble with the law. This defendant hoped to receive leniency from the law so that he could soon return to the arms of his family and loved ones.

The panel of judges determined that the defendants’ actions were dangerous to society and violated the law. After considering the role of each defendant in the case, the panel sentenced Quang Van Luan to 20 years in prison for the crime of Illegal drug trafficking. For the crime of Illegal drug possession, defendant Truong Xuan Binh was sentenced to 15 years in prison, and defendant Lo Thi Huyen was sentenced to 10 years in prison.

Each of the three defendants had different circumstances, but because they were all involved in drugs, they all had to pay the price with years in prison. That is also a lesson, a warning for anyone involved in the illegal possession and sale of drugs, sooner or later they will have to pay the price!