The mastermind of the 3-cake heroin trafficking case was sentenced to 20 years in prison.

(Baonghean.vn) - On the morning of September 9, the Provincial People's Court opened the first instance trial of the case of illegal drug trafficking against Nguyen Thanh Tam (born in 1971, residing in Vinh City), Luong Thi Huong (born in 1990, residing in Luong Minh Commune, Tuong Duong), Tran Huu Tuyen (born in 1979, residing in Nam Cuong Commune, Nam Dan) for illegal drug trafficking.

According to the indictment, at about 10 p.m. on November 21, 2013, the Vinh City Police Department's drug crime investigation team caught Tran Huu Tuyen red-handed transporting 3 heroin cakes on a motorbike through Chau Tien Commune (Quy Chau). Tuyen confessed that the heroin was purchased by Luong Thi Huong under the direction of Nguyen Thanh Tam. Immediately afterward, the police also arrested Nguyen Thanh Tam and Luong Thi Huong while they were in a car about 1km behind Tuyen.

Nguyen Thanh Tam and his accomplices at the trial

The investigation clarified: knowing that Luong Thi Huong (born in 1990, residing in Luong Minh commune, Tuong Duong, Nghe An) was fluent in Lao, Nguyen Thanh Tam (born in 1971, residing in Vinh city) lured Huong into drug trafficking. Huong was responsible for contacting and agreeing on the price of heroin with a number of Lao people. Each time she helped Tam with a transaction with a "partner", Huong was paid 100 USD. Huong contacted a Lao person (unknown background and address) and agreed on a price of 5,100 USD/heroin cake, the delivery location was at Thong Thu border gate, Que Phong. On November 21, 2013, Tam gave Huong 15,300 USD to buy 3 heroin cakes, and at the same time gave Tran Huu Tuyen a motorbike to take Huong to Que Phong to buy the goods. After buying the goods, Tuyen hid 3 heroin cakes in the motorbike and drove downstream and was arrested.

The authorities have clarified that the white powder seized from Tam, Huong and Tuyen was heroin weighing 1,000g. On September 15, 2014, the People's Court of Nghe An province brought the case to trial, sentencing Nguyen Thanh Tam to life in prison, Luong Thi Huong to 18 years in prison, and Tran Huu Tuyen to 20 years in prison. Tam and Tuyen appealed to the Supreme People's Court. On April 22, 2015, the Supreme People's Court of Appeal brought the case to the second instance trial. Finding that the first instance court had not yet appraised the drug content and the investigation was incomplete, the entire verdict was annulled for reinvestigation.

On June 17, 2015, the Nghe An Provincial Police Department opened the seal of the evidence and took samples to determine the drug content in the 3 heroin cakes. The results of the test showed that the drug content in the samples taken from the 3 heroin cakes was 40-45%.

The panel of judges determined that Nguyen Thanh Tam was the ringleader and played a key role in the case, so they sentenced Tam to 20 years in prison; Luong Thi Huong to 16 years in prison, and Tran Huu Tuyen to 17 years in prison for illegal drug trafficking./.

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