Hiding drugs in a 'dangerous place' still can't escape

On April 5, the People's Court of Nghe An province opened a first-instance criminal trial to try defendants Phan Ba ​​Linh (born 1995), residing in Duc Son commune, Anh Son district, and Nguyen Van Mai (born 2000), residing in Hoa Son commune, Anh Son district, for the crime of "Illegal drug trafficking".

Previously, in 2018, while working in Laos, Linh met a local man named Loc. On August 20, 2020, Loc contacted Linh and asked if she had any drugs.

Then, Loc sold Linh 30 packs.pink sheetfor 24 million VND. Linh planned to buy drugs for his own use and retail to others for 50 to 90 thousand VND/pill.

Defendants Nguyen Van Mai (striped shirt) and Phan Ba ​​Linh in court. Photo: Tran Vu

On the afternoon of September 3, Linh took Nguyen Van Mai on a motorbike to get drugs. Following Loc's instructions, at the base of a dry tree in the Vietnam - Laos border area (in Phuc Son commune, Anh Son district), the two went to check and discovered many packages of opium.

Linh took the “goods” and hid them in the saddle, under the mudguard of the motorbike. Mai hid a package of drugs in her underwear.

At 1:30 p.m. the same day, the two were caught red-handed by the working group of Phuc Son Border Guard Station in coordination with Anh Son District Police with many packages of opium with a total weight of more than 600 grams.

In court, the two defendants admitted their crimes. Defendant Linh said he was trafficking drugs for resale. Defendant Mai, although he knew Linh was buying and selling heroin, agreed to participate when invited.

The panel of judges determined that in this case, defendant Phan Ba ​​Linh committed the crime as the mastermind and leader, so he was sentenced to life in prison. Defendant Nguyen Van Mai committed the crime as a secondary role in the case, so he was sentenced to 20 years in prison.

As for the man named Loc, because the two defendants did not know his background or address, there was no basis for investigation and prosecution.