Bitter ending for the 'trio' of drug traffickers
(Baonghean.vn) - On June 20, Nghe An Provincial People's Court opened a first-instance criminal trial of 3 defendants: Ho Van Dung (born 1988), residing in Nha Trang City (Khanh Hoa), Pham Trung Phong (born 1982), Dong Trieu Town (Quang Ninh), Ha Van Thinh (born 1982), residing in Bao La Commune, Mai Chau District (Hoa Binh) for the crime of "Illegal drug trafficking".
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Three defendants at trial. Photo: Tran Vu |
According to the case file, Pham Trung Phong and Ho Van Dung knew each other before. In 2014, both were sentenced to prison by the Nha Trang City People's Court for illegal drug trafficking. In 2020, after completing their prison sentences, both contacted each other.
On November 19, 2021, Phong called Dung to borrow 30 million VND to take care of family matters. Dung agreed and asked Phong to buy heroin to sell.
Phong agreed and contacted Ha Van Thinh, who quoted 519 million VND for 3 heroin cakes. During the discussion, Phong and Thinh agreed to quote Dung 570 million VND, with the purpose of profiting from the difference.
After hearing Phong's quote, Dung agreed and booked a flight from Nha Trang to Hanoi. On November 20, 2021, Phong took Dung to meet Thinh. Then Thinh and Dung went to Hoa Binh province to buy drugs.
Here, Thinh called a Mong man to discuss buying drugs, and was quoted 459 million VND for 3 heroin cakes. Then, Thinh took the money and went to the mountainous area of Cun Pheo commune, Mai Chau district (Hoa Binh) to buy and sell drugs. After getting the "goods", Thinh kept the profit of 111 million VND, and gave the drugs to Dung. With the difference, Thinh took 61 million VND and gave 50 million VND to Phong.
At around 9:15 p.m. on November 21, Dung was carrying drugs on a train from Hanoi to Nha Trang City when he arrived at Nghi Yen Commune, Nghi Loc District, Nghe An Province. He was checked by the authorities and caught red-handed with more than 1 kg of drugs. Based on Dung's statement, the authorities arrested Thinh and Phong.
At the trial, the defendants admitted their crimes and confessed honestly. Dung admitted to buying drugs for his own use and selling them for money.
After considering the role of each defendant in the case, the panel sentenced Ho Van Dung and Pham Trung Phong to life in prison, and defendant Ha Van Thinh to 20 years in prison.
