Lost in a 'second-hand' relationship
Both Canh and Nhi had experienced failed marriages, and it seemed as though their lives would turn a new page when they came together. However, instead of building a future together, they fell into a self-destructive lifestyle. Not only did they become addicted to drugs, but they also got involved in the trafficking of "white death" (heroin).
Assisting a lover in drug trafficking.
The People's Court of Nghe An province recently opened a trial for defendants Pham Thi Thanh Nhi (born in 1995, residing in Nghia Lam commune, Nghia Dan district) and Doan Tran Canh (born in 1988, residing in Nghia Hong commune, Nghia Dan district) along with 3 accomplices on charges of illegally trading narcotics. From the moment they were escorted into the courtroom, the two defendants were seen whispering to each other. To ensure objectivity in the trial, the panel of judges requested the court security to separate Nhi and Canh, placing them far apart.
Pham Thi Thanh Nhi is the youngest of five siblings. She didn't attend school and is illiterate. She was once married, but the couple separated. After the divorce, their child lived with the grandparents. Nhi sought a new life and began a relationship with Doan Tran Canh, a man who had also been married before.
Cảnh is a heavy drug addict. This individual has been imprisoned multiple times for drug-related offenses. In 2009, Đoàn Trần Cảnh was sentenced to 18 months in prison for illegally possessing narcotics. After being released from prison, he relapsed into drug use, and in 2014, he was sentenced again to 37 months in prison.
Besides his drug addiction, Canh is also a habitual physical assaulter. He has been fined twice by the authorities for fighting and intentionally causing injury.
Despite knowing her lover's criminal past, Nhi still pursued the relationship. Living with a drug addict, Nhi unknowingly became involved with illegal substances. From addicts, both of them embarked on a path of illegal drug trafficking. Notably, Nhi became a key accomplice to her lover in carrying out his illegal activities.
According to the case file, in order to obtain drugs for profit, Doan Tran Canh contacted Quang Thi Hiep (born in 1989, residing in Kim Son town, Que Phong district) to order 10 packets of methamphetamine for 45 million VND. Hiep then contacted drug kingpin Vu Chong Po (born in 1973, residing in Tri Le commune, Que Phong district) to order the drugs.
After purchasing the drugs, on May 15, 2024, Quang Thi Hiep hid methamphetamine in a bag containing cucumbers and bamboo shoots and sent it to Canh by bus. Canh did not pick up the drugs himself but told his lover, Nhi, to receive the "goods" at the bus station in Thai Hoa town.
That same afternoon, Nhi went to the bus station to pick up a bag of cucumbers to give to her lover. From the drugs he had bought, Canh sold them in small quantities to many addicts. In addition, Canh and Nhi had used drugs together many times. Their drug dealing activities were exposed, and the couple were arrested by the police.
Based on the suspects' statements, authorities arrested Quang Thi Hiep and Vu Chong Po. Further investigation revealed that, in addition to selling drugs to Hiep, Vu Chong Po also sold three packages of drugs to Vy Thi Tuyet (born in 1980, residing in Chau Thon commune, Que Phong district). Therefore, authorities arrested Tuyet.
Authorities concluded that, in this case, Pó is criminally liable for two instances of buying and selling over 266 grams of drugs. Hiệp is liable for 204 grams of drugs. Cảnh and Nhị are liable for 184 grams of drugs; and Tuyết is liable for 61 grams of drugs.
Bitter ending
In response to the court's questions, defendant Pham Thi Thanh Nhi initially stated that she was only following the instructions of her boyfriend, defendant Doan Tran Canh. Nhi claimed that because she lived with her boyfriend, when Canh asked her to go to the bus station to receive a bag of goods sent from the mountainous region, she complied.
According to the defendant's testimony, when she received the bag, she had no idea it contained drugs. She only suspected something unusual about the bag when she handed the cucumbers to Canh, and then her boyfriend quickly took them into the room and closed the door. Only later did she realize that the bag of cucumbers and bamboo shoots contained drugs.
However, the representative of the Provincial People's Procuracy presented the defendant Nhi's self-declarations at the time of his arrest, showing that he admitted from the beginning that he knew there were drugs inside the bag of cucumbers. The defendant clearly knew that Canh had asked him to retrieve the drugs, contrary to his testimony in court.
At this point, the defendant Nhi admitted to the crime. The defendant stated that he changed his testimony out of fear. He expressed remorse and asked the court to consider granting him mitigating circumstances for his honest confession.
The female defendant stated that, due to her addiction, she followed Canh's instructions to obtain drugs for personal use. Furthermore, because of her difficult circumstances, being a single mother with a young child, she followed Canh's instructions with the intention of earning money. Nhi testified that in this case, after obtaining the drugs, Canh gave her 1 million dong to send home to support her child. Mentioning her young child, the female defendant bowed her head, her face showing remorse.
Appearing in court, defendant Canh admitted to buying drugs to resell for profit. Regarding the money used for drug trafficking, Canh stated that it came from savings. He admitted that due to his long-term addiction, the purpose of buying drugs was not only to resell them but also to satisfy his personal needs.
The defendant had been imprisoned multiple times because of drugs. However, Canh continued down the same path, engaging in drug trafficking. He admitted to luring his lover into this criminal activity. Therefore, in his final statement before the court deliberated, in addition to requesting a reduced sentence for himself, Canh also asked for leniency for Nhi.
The court ruled that the defendants' actions violated the law. Drugs are a serious problem affecting public health and social order. The defendants committed the crime of illegally trafficking drugs due to their own reckless and irresponsible lifestyles and disregard for the law.
After a comprehensive review of the case, the panel of judges sentenced Pham Thi Thanh Nhi to 18 years in prison. The other three defendants, Vu Chong Po, Quang Thi Hiep, and Doan Tran Canh, each received a 20-year prison sentence. Defendant Vy Thi Tuyet was sentenced to 16 years in prison for the crime of illegally trading narcotics.
Upon hearing the 18-year prison sentence, defendant Nhi couldn't hold back her tears. She cried for her irreparable mistakes, for her young child who would have to live without a mother's love, and for the dark years ahead. The sentence was not only a punishment for Nhi, but also a costly lesson, a warning to anyone tempted by drugs. A single moment of lapse can cost an entire life, resulting in long, arduous years in prison.
