Couple invest in drug trafficking, end up in jail

On August 26, the People's Court of Nghe An province opened a first-instance criminal trial of two defendants, Xong Nenh Thong (born 1980) and Xong Ba Gio (born 1990), both residing in Na Ngoi commune, Ky Son district, for the crime of "Illegal drug trafficking".

According to the case file, in a short period of time, the two defendants Thong and Gio committed many acts of illegal drug trafficking.

The first time, around September 2021, Thong met Gio and asked him to find customers to buy drugs to sell for profit. Gio agreed.

After finding a customer, the two went to the border area to buy 10 packages of opium from a Laotian for 12 million VND. Thong and Gio each contributed 6 million VND, agreeing to split the profits in half.

Two defendants at trial. Photo: Tran Vu

On the evening of October 5, 2021, Thong and Gio brought 10 packages of drugs (weighing nearly 200 grams) to sell for 40 million VND. On the way, Thong got out of the car and waited while Gio held the "goods" to deliver them and was caught red-handed by the police.

The second time, around June 2021, Thong happened to meet a Laotian. During the conversation, Thong learned that this person was selling drugs and had half a heroin cake (priced at 60 million VND) and a small amount of crystal meth (priced at 2 million VND). Thong asked to buy and agreed to pay 32 million in advance, the remaining amount would be paid later when the sale was successful.

Thong then brought it home and divided it into small pieces to sell gradually. Between June and December 2021, Thong sold drugs to customers many times.

At about 7:30 p.m. on December 22, 2021, Thong was discovered by the police while selling more than 72 grams of drugs to two men (unknown background and address).

The investigation agency determined that Thong must bear criminal responsibility for buying and selling more than 265 grams of drugs, and Gio must bear criminal responsibility for more than 194 grams.

At the trial, the two defendants admitted to their crimes. Both said they bought drugs to sell for profit, knowing full well that it was against the law. Both presented their difficult circumstances, lack of knowledge of the law, and being ethnic minorities to ask for a lighter sentence.

After considering the role of each defendant in the case, the panel sentenced Xong Nenh Thong and Xong Ba Gio each to 20 years in prison.