Using money from selling fish to buy heroin.
One day in early 2024, Ha Thanh Xuyen was caught red-handed by the police while buying and selling heroin in the hospital's parking lot. Xuyen confessed that she had used money from selling fish to traffic drugs.
On July 4th, the People's Court of Nghe An province held a first-instance trial to hear the case against defendant Ha Thanh Xuyen (born in 1958), residing in Chau Binh commune, Quy Chau district, for the crime of "illegally trading narcotics".
This is the second time this defendant has appeared in court. Previously, in 2021, Xuyen was sentenced to 1 year and 3 months in prison for "illegally possessing narcotics".
Regarding this case, the indictment states that on the morning of January 7, 2024, while Xuyen was at home, an unidentified man (whose identity and address are unknown) called to inquire about purchasing a block of heroin.
To obtain the drugs for sale, Xuyen contacted a man named Viet (whose background is unknown) to order one block of heroin for 28 million VND, agreeing on the time and place for delivery. Since she didn't have enough money, Xuyen asked to pay 10 million VND upfront, promising to pay the remaining amount after selling the drugs.
Early in the morning of January 9th, Xuyen took a bus to Tay Hieu intersection in Thai Hoa town. At this time, Viet boarded the bus and sat next to Xuyen so that the two could carry out the drug transaction. After purchasing the drugs, Xuyen took a motorbike taxi to the Northwest Regional General Hospital (Thai Hoa town).
At the far end of the hospital's parking lot, as Xuyen was handing over the drugs to the seller, she was spotted and caught red-handed by a task force from the Tan Ky District Police. Taking advantage of the lapse in security, the drug buyer quickly escaped.
The investigating agency determined that Xuyen is criminally liable for the act of buying and selling more than 44 grams of narcotics.
At the trial, the defendant admitted to the crime. The defendant stated that he trafficked drugs to earn money for medical treatment. Regarding the 10 million VND used to carry out the drug trafficking, Xuyen claimed that he obtained it from saving up from selling fish.
Given the opportunity to speak his final words, the defendant expressed remorse and asked the court to consider mitigating circumstances due to illness, hoping for an early chance to return to his family and grandchildren.
After a comprehensive review of the case, the panel of judges sentenced the defendant Ha Thanh Xuyen to 16 years in prison for the crime of "illegally trading in narcotics".
