Hiding drugs in a shack to sell to addicts, sentenced to 20 years in prison

Tran Vu• January 15, 2020 09:35

(Baonghean.vn) - Luong Van Xa bought a large amount of drugs to store in a hut deep in the forest to gradually sell to addicts. While Xa was selling the "goods" to customers, he was caught red-handed by the police.

On the morning of January 14, Nghe An Provincial People's Court opened a first-instance criminal trial of Luong Van Xa (born 1976), residing in Luong Minh commune, Tuong Duong district, for the crime of "Illegal drug trafficking".

According to the investigation agency's documents, on the morning of July 24, 2019, Luong Van Xa brought 80 million VND and walked to Pu Lom hill, Luong Minh commune to buy drugs to sell for profit. When going to Pu Lom hill, Xa met 3 Mong men who did not know him and asked to buy drugs. These 3 men agreed to sell Xa 3 heroin sticks and 16 packages of pink phien for 80 million VND.

Defendant Luong Van Xa at the trial. Photo: Tran Vu

After buying drugs, Xa brought them back to hide in his shack in Dua village, Luong Minh commune to sell to addicts.

At around 7:00 p.m. on September 25, 2019, while Xa was selling drugs to addicts, he was discovered and caught red-handed by the Ky Son District Police Task Force, and the drug buyer escaped. The seized evidence was 97.5 grams of heroin and 298.49 grams of Methamphetamine.

At the trial, the defendant admitted to the crime as charged in the indictment. The defendant stated, “I saw people selling drugs so I did the same, not expecting to be arrested.”

The panel of judges determined that the defendant’s drug trafficking was a violation of the law. The defendant’s honest confession and the defendant’s father’s contribution to the revolution were mitigating circumstances. Considering the case as a whole, the court sentenced Luong Van Xa to 20 years in prison for “Illegal drug trafficking.”