HIV-infected man runs drug ring, fiercely fights back when arrested

Previously, from April 2021, through information from the people and situation monitoring work, Vinh City Police discovered that Nguyen Ngoc Phuong (born in 1978), from Long Xa commune, Hung Nguyen district; residing in Cua Nam ward, Vinh city, was a subject whose sentence was suspended for the crime of "Illegal possession of military weapons" with many suspicious signs of illegal drug trafficking.

In August 2021, after the suspension of his prison sentence expired, Phuong fled the locality. The Criminal Enforcement Agency of Nghe An province issued a decisionwantedfor Phuong

During his time in hiding, Phuong continued to operate his drug ring remotely. Realizing the need to establish a special project to combat and “dismantle” this drug ring, under the direction of the Provincial Police Department, Vinh City Police established a special project to combat it.

Evidence of the case. Photo: Hong Ngoc

To run this drug ring, Phuong connected with Ho Quang Dong.(a fellow native of Hung Nguyen, just served a 10-year prison sentence for illegal drug trafficking and returned to his hometown in 2020)currently living in Dong Son commune, Do Luong district to buy drugs in large quantities.

Phuong also directed his right-hand man, Nguyen Quoc Huy, to supply drugs to retail outlets in Vinh city or to transport them to southern provinces and cities for consumption.

When someone ordered drugs, Ho Quang Dong contacted Nguyen Dinh Nguyen (born in 1990), residing in Khanh Hop commune, Nghi Loc district, to buy them.

On December 15, 2021, Nguyen Dinh Nguyen went to Tri Le commune, Que Phong district, Nghe An province to receive drugs from a subject named "Nhênh" in the border area.

In the early morning of December 17, 2021, when determining that the subject had sent the "goods" on a passenger bus from Tri Le commune, Que Phong district to Vinh, the members of the working group quickly deployed forces to arrest him.

At noon of the same day, when Nguyen was receiving the disguised package in Nghi Dien commune, Nghi Loc district, the police force raided and arrested him. At the scene, the force seized 01 camouflaged taro bag containing 02kg of ketamine; 01 motorbike and 01 mobile phone.

After initially struggling with Nguyen, the working group in Do Luong district approached and executed an emergency detention order against Ho Quang Dong (born in 1978), permanent resident of Hamlet 08, Hung Linh Commune, Hung Nguyen District; currently residing in Hamlet 05, Dong Son Commune, Do Luong District. Searching Dong's residence, the police force seized 10 synthetic drug pills and 1 mobile phone.

Nguyen Ngoc Phuong fiercely resisted arrest. Photo: Hong Ngoc

Continuing to expand the investigation, the Special Task Force arrested the wanted suspect Nguyen Ngoc Phuong while he was hiding at the house of Nguyen Quoc Huy (born in 1977), residing in Hamlet 01, Xuan Lam Commune, Hung Nguyen District. Checking Phuong's car, they seized 02 packages of synthetic drugs (31 grams) and many other tools for using synthetic drugs. Urgently searching Phuong's residence in Long Xa Commune, Hung Nguyen District, the police force seized 02kg of ketamine and 01 heroin cake.

During the arrest, knowing that he was infected with late-stage HIV, Nguyen Ngoc Phuong fought back fiercely. He used all means such as biting and scratching the arresting force. However, because they had a plan in place, the arresting force quickly controlled Phuong, forcing him to obediently put his hands in handcuffs.

At the police station, the suspects initially confessed to their crimes. The task force is currently continuing to investigate and clarify the matter.

Up to this point, the Investigation Committee has arrested 04 subjects; the total seized evidence is more than 04kg of ketamine, 01 heroin cake and many other related evidences.