Contribute money from selling fish to sell heroin
One day in early 2024, Ha Thanh Xuyen was caught red-handed by the police while buying and selling heroin in the hospital parking lot. Xuyen confessed that he used the money from selling fish to trade drugs.
On July 4, Nghe An Provincial People's Court opened the first instance trial of defendant Ha Thanh Xuyen (born 1958), residing in Chau Binh commune, Quy Chau district, for the crime of "Illegal drug trafficking".
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 "Illegal possession of narcotics".
Regarding this case, the indictment shows that on the morning of January 7, 2024, while Xuyen was at home, a man (unknown background and address) called to ask to buy a heroin stick.
To have “goods” to sell to customers, Xuyen contacted a man named Viet (unknown background) to order a heroin stick for 28 million VND, agreeing on the time and place of delivery. Because he did not have enough money, Xuyen asked to pay 10 million VND in advance, and agreed to pay the remaining amount when the drugs were sold.
Early in the morning of January 9, Xuyen took a bus to Tay Hieu intersection, Thai Hoa town. At this time, Viet got on the bus and sat next to Xuyen so that the two could carry out the drug transaction. After buying the drugs, Xuyen took a motorbike taxi to the Northwest Regional General Hospital (Thai Hoa town).
At the end of the hospital's parking lot, when Xuyen had just brought the drugs to the seller, he was discovered and caught red-handed by the Tan Ky District Police working group. Taking advantage of the loophole, the "customer" who bought the drugs quickly escaped.
The investigation agency determined that Xuyen must bear criminal responsibility for the act of buying and selling more than 44 grams of drugs.
At the trial, the defendant admitted to the crime. The defendant said he sold drugs to have money for medical treatment. Regarding the 10 million VND used to buy and sell drugs, Xuyen said he got it from saving up from selling fish.
Having the last word, the defendant expressed remorse and asked the court to consider reducing his sentence due to illness and to have the opportunity to soon return to his family and children.
After a comprehensive review of the case, the panel sentenced defendant Ha Thanh Xuyen to 16 years in prison for "Illegal drug trafficking".
