Bringing 7kg of opium from Laos to Vietnam for sale, 2 uncles and nephews received prison sentences

(Baonghean.vn) - On the morning of November 21, Nghe An Provincial People's CourtAn opened the first instance criminal trial of Tho Cha Ly (born 1993) and Tho Dua Dia (born 1988), both residing in Pha Danh commune, Muong Quan, Hua Phan province (Laos). Ly and Dua were prosecuted for "Illegal drug trafficking".

Tho Cha Ly (left) and Tho Dua Dia at the trial. Photo: Nhu Binh

According to the indictment, Ly was ordered by a man named Cu (unknown identity) to buy 4kg of opium, priced at 6 million VND/kg. Ly invited his uncle Tho Dua Dia to participate.

After that, the man named Cu ordered another 10kg of opium, promising to deliver it to Vietnam. On May 13, 2017, Ly put the opium resin he bought into a 20-liter plastic can, tied it to the back of his motorbike and took it to Vietnam.

Upon arriving at Tri Le commune, Tho Cha Ly and Tho Dua Dia were discovered and arrested by the anti-drug and crime force of Tri Le Border Guard Station (Nghe An Border Guard) in coordination with Nghe An Customs. The total amount of drugs that these two Lao people brought to Vietnam to sell was more than 7.3 kg.

At the trial, Tho Dua Dia and Tho Cha Ly confessed their crimes. Both said that due to difficult family circumstances, having many children, and greed, they committed the crime. At the same time, the two defendants hoped to receive leniency from Vietnamese law.

Considering the case as a whole, the panel sentenced Tho Cha Ly and Tho Dua Dia each to 20 years in prison for the above crime.

Nhu Binh