Construction worker jailed for accepting payment in drugs.
Vi Van Doan went to Laos to work as a construction worker, where his employer suggested paying him with drugs. Doan agreed, so he took the drugs home to resell for profit.
On April 24, the People's Court of Nghe An province opened the first-instance trial of defendant Vi Van Doan (born in 1972), residing in Chau Thon commune, Que Phong district (Nghe An province), on the charge of...Illegal trafficking of narcotics.
According to the case file, around June 2024, Vi Van Doan went to Muong Quan district, Hua Phan province (Lao People's Democratic Republic) to work as a construction worker for a man named Phung (whose identity and background are unknown).
After finishing his work, Phung still owed 5 million dong in wages, so he asked Doan: "I have 100 grams of methamphetamine for 5 million dong. If you take it and sell it, consider it my payment for the wages I owe you." Doan agreed to the Laotian's suggestion.
Afterward, Phung drove Doan to the stadium area in Tri Le commune, Que Phong district (Nghe An province) and handed over the drugs. Doan took the drugs home and hid them for personal use and to sell for profit.
On January 1, 2025, a man came to Doan's house to inquire about buying drugs. Doan quoted a price of 5 million dong per package, and the customer agreed to buy it but arranged to "pick up the goods" the next day.
Early the next morning, while Đoàn was delivering drugs to a customer, he was arrested by the Que Phong District Police along with the evidence, which included over 91 grams of drugs.
At the trial, the defendant expressed remorse for his crime. He confessed that he had accepted drugs to settle his construction work debts. He broke down in tears, explaining his difficult circumstances and pleading with the court for a chance to rebuild his life and return to his wife and children.
After a comprehensive review of the case, the panel of judges sentenced the defendant Vi Văn Đoàn to 17 years in prison for the crime of illegally trading narcotics.
Regarding the man named Phung and the customer who bought the drugs, since the defendant did not know their identities and backgrounds, the authorities had no basis to prosecute them.
