Use scrap metal money to sell drugs

On October 17, Nghe An Provincial People's Court opened the first instance trial of defendant Nguyen Thi Phuong (67 years old), residing in Chau Kim commune, Que Phong district, for the crime of "Illegal drug trafficking".

Phuong is a defendant with a bad personal history, having been in prison three times with sentences of 8 years, 5 years, and 9 years for drug-related crimes.

Regarding this case, according to the indictment, in April 2023, Phuong met a Mong man who said he had drugs. On May 13, Phuong contacted the man by phone to order the "goods".

Late that afternoon, Phuong rented a car to go to the meeting place to buy 7 packages of drugs, with a total weight of more than 116 grams (priced at 3.5 million VND). Phuong paid 1 million VND in advance, and asked to delay the remaining amount.

After that, Nguyen Thi Phuong was contacted by a man (unknown origin) who ordered drugs. This woman agreed so she took a bus to Dien Thinh commune, Dien Chau district to sell drugs.

At noon on May 15, while Phuong was holding drugs and standing in front of the gate of Dien Thinh Kindergarten, Dien Chau district, waiting for customers to come and receive their "goods", he was arrested by the police with evidence of 5 packages of drugs.

After the authorities took Phuong back to the campdetentionthen discovered a package of drugs in her bra. Searching Phuong's house, the police seized another package of drugs hidden in the bed.

At the trial, the defendant admitted to the crime. Phuong said he made a living by selling scrap metal. Therefore, the money he used to buy drugs came from selling scrap metal.

The defendant presented her difficult circumstances, illness, and the death of her husband to ask the court to consider reducing her sentence, allowing her to soon return to live with her children and grandchildren, and rebuild her life.

After a comprehensive review of the case, the panel sentenced defendant Nguyen Thi Phuong to 20 years in prison for "Illegal drug trafficking".