Contributing money to heroin trafficking, two uncles and nephews 'profit' and each get 20 years in prison

On July 18, Nghe An Provincial People's Court opened a trial for three defendants: Vo Thi Chung (born in 1971), residing in Vinh Tan Ward, Vinh City; Lau Ba Va (born in 1992) and Xong Ba Xua (born in 1962), both residing in Na Ngoi Commune, Ky Son District, for the crime of "Illegal drug trafficking".

The case file shows that Vo Thi Chung used to trade agricultural products in the mountainous districts of Nghe An and knew Xua.

Around May 2022, Chung went to Xua's house to buy drugs. At that time, due to a sore leg, Xua called his cousin Va to come over to discuss buying and selling drugs.

Three months later, Chung contacted Va and ordered a heroin cake for 130 million VND. To have drugs to sell to customers, Xua and Va agreed to pool money to buy heroin for 75 million VND from a Laotian.

At the end of August 2022, Lau Ba Va walked to the top of the mountain to receive drugs and then brought them home to hide. After that, Va contacted Chung to deliver the drugs, but this woman said she was traveling and made an appointment for another time.

On October 19, 2022, after making an appointment, Chung took a bus to the gate of Tuong Duong District Hospital to receive drugs. However, when Va was arriving at the meeting point, he was caught red-handed by the police, who seized 1 heroin cake (weighing 353 grams). On the same day, the police arrested Chung and seized 128 million VND in drug money.

At the trial, the three defendants admitted to their crimes. The two defendants Xua and Va stated that they pooled money to trade drugs for sale out of greed, and would share the profits. The defendant Chung stated that he had to trade drugs due to circumstances. The defendants asked the court to consider reducing their sentences.

Considering the case comprehensively, the court sentenced the three defendants Vo Thi Chung, Lau Ba Va and Xong Ba Xua each to 20 years in prison.