Postponed trial of drug trafficking ring of 1.02 tons led by boss Tuan Lay

(Baonghean.vn) - Authorities determined that the defendants had bought, sold, and transported a total of 294 heroin cakes, equivalent to 102 quintals of drugs. Phan Dinh Tuan, also known as Tuan 'lay', was the ringleader.

» Boss Tuan Lay and his accomplices must appear in court

On the morning of May 5, at the Provincial Police Detention Center, the Provincial People's Court opened a criminal trial to try the case of illegal drug trafficking and transportation led by Phan Dinh Tuan, also known as Tuan "lay".

The defendants: Phan Dinh Tuan (born in 1971), Ho Su Co (born in 1983), Nguyen Quoc Thang (born in 1977), all residing in Vinh City, Vu Thanh Trung (born in 1964), residing in Yen Thanh District, were prosecuted for the crime of "Illegal trading of narcotics"; Pham Thanh Ton (born in 1989), residing in Huong Son District, Ha Tinh, was prosecuted for the crime of "Illegal transportation of narcotics" and Nguyen Thi Huong, (born in 1968), residing in Vinh City, was prosecuted for the crime of "Failure to report a crime".

Phan Dinh Tuan (black shirt) and Ho Su Co (white striped shirt) at the trial. Photo: Nhu Binh

According to the indictment of the Provincial People's Procuracy, at 4:00 p.m. on February 15, 2014, at the Ben Thuy bridge toll station, the Drug Crime Investigation Police Department of the Provincial Police coordinated with the Drug Crime Prevention Department of the Ministry of Public Security to catch Ho Su Co red-handed driving a car carrying 60 heroin cakes. Based on Co's testimony, the police arrested Pham Thanh Ton.

At the police station, Ton confessed that he had hired a Laotian to transport 60 heroin cakes for 10 million VND to give to Ho Su Co. The police clarified that Phan Dinh Tuan had instructed Co to receive the drugs from Ton to bring to Dong Nai to give to Vu Thanh Trung.

In addition to this arrest, the investigation agency also determined that, in the two months of November and December 2013, although he was serving a 10-year sentence for “Murder” and “Illegal use of military weapons” at Binh Dien prison (Thua Thien – Hue), Tuan still directed Co by phone to receive from Phan Van Su a total of 102 heroin cakes three times to deliver to Vu Thanh Trung. Each time, Tuan paid Co 100 million VND.

Also during this time, Tuan directed Nguyen Quoc Thang to receive a total of 82 heroin cakes from Phan Van Su twice and give them to Vu Thanh Trung to bring to the South to sell.

In February 2014, after being released from prison, Tuan instructed Thang to receive 50 heroin cakes from Phan Van Su and give them to Vu Thanh Trung to take to Dong Nai to sell to Thai Van Dinh. The money from this drug sale was all stolen by Dinh's accomplices. Tuan and his followers went all the way to Saigon to look for Dinh but could not find him.

From the investigation results, the authorities determined that the defendants had bought, sold, and transported a total of 294 heroin cakes, equivalent to 102 quintals of drugs.

The trial of the ring that bought and transported 294 heroin cakes on the morning of May 5. Photo: Nhu Binh

Nguyen Thi Huong lived with Tuan as husband and wife. Although she knew about Tuan's actions, she did not report them to the authorities, so Huong was prosecuted for failure to report a crime.

Phan Van Su, who sold drugs to Tuan many times, is now dead, so the investigation agency and the Provincial People's Procuracy will not prosecute him. Thai Tran Dinh was also arrested for investigation, but there is currently not enough basis to prosecute him.

Phan Dinh Tuan has 5 previous convictions for “Intentionally causing injury”, “Illegal possession and use of military weapons”, “Threatening to kill”, “Murder” with sentences ranging from 12 months to 9 years in prison. On February 10, 2015, Phan Dinh Tuan was sentenced to death by the People’s Court of Nghe An province for “Illegal trading of narcotics” (110 heroin cakes).

In addition to Nguyen Thi Huong, the remaining defendants were prosecuted with the highest penalty of death.

At the trial on the morning of May 5, due to the absence of a defense lawyer for Ho Su Co, the panel of judges adjourned the trial to ensure the defendant's legal rights and interests.

Nhu Binh