20 years in prison for finding drugs while looking for honey in the forest

On October 20, Nghe An Provincial People's Court opened a first-instance criminal trial to try Tran Dinh Luyen (50 years old), residing in Linh Son commune, Anh Son district, for the crime ofIllegal possession of drugs.

Luyen is a drug addict and was sentenced to 3 years in prison for illegal possession of drugs. Luyen was also sent to a drug rehabilitation center but relapsed.

Defendant Tran Dinh Luyen in court. Photo: Tran Vu

At the trial, Luyen stated that on June 6, 2020, he rode a motorbike from home to the street.borderVietnam - Laos in Hanh Lam commune, Thanh Chuong district to find honey. When stopping for lunch, Luyen saw a plastic bag next to a tree and opened it to check. Because she had used drugs before, Luyen knew it was "white stuff" so she secretly hid it, waiting for the right time to take it.

On the morning of June 18, Luyen rode her motorbike to the place where the drugs were stored to get them and put them in the trunk of her car. On the way back, Luyen was discovered by Thanh Chuong District Police, who seized 762.88 grams of drugs.

At the trial, the defendant said he had picked up the drugs. Defendant Luyen also admitted to having been addicted to drugs for many years. “The purpose of the defendant was to use the drugs, not to sell them,” Luyen stated. The defendant expressed remorse and hoped for a lighter sentence.

With crimeIllegal possession of drugsThe People's Court sentenced Tran Dinh Luyen to 20 years in prison.