Four defendants sentenced to 80 years in prison for multi-layered drug trafficking ring.
Four individuals in Nghe An province were arrested one after another after one link in the drug trafficking chain was apprehended through multiple intermediaries to profit from the price difference. The defendants paid the price with heavy sentences.
The People's Court of Nghe An province recently held a first-instance trial to hear the cases of defendants Nguyen Van Anh (born in 1974), Tran Ngoc Anh (born in 1985), Dang Quang Dat (born in 1991), and Dang Van Ton (born in 1987) on charges of "illegally trading narcotics".
According to the records, Nguyen Van Anh worked as a bus driver and frequently traveled to Laos, where he became acquainted with a man named Phet (Lao nationality, background unknown). When approached about buying or selling drugs, Anh agreed to act as a supplier.
Around mid-April 2025, Tran Ngoc Anh placed an order for methamphetamine. A month later, Anh contacted Phet and purchased 20 packages of methamphetamine for 40 million VND near the Cau Treo border gate (Ha Tinh province). However, upon checking, Anh discovered she had only received 16 packages.
Subsequently, these drugs were bought and resold through multiple channels. On May 19-20, 2025, Anh, Anh, Dat, and Ton conducted two transactions, each time raising the price to profit from the difference.
On May 20, 2025, after purchasing drugs from Dat, Dang Van Ton was arrested by the police. During a search of his residence, authorities seized an additional 8.18 grams of drugs. Based on Ton's confession, the remaining suspects were subsequently arrested.
The investigating agency determined that Nguyen Van Anh, Tran Ngoc Anh, and Dang Quang Dat are criminally liable for the trafficking of 320.6 grams of narcotics; Dang Van Ton is responsible for 328.78 grams of narcotics.
At the trial, the defendants admitted to committing the crimes out of greed. All four defendants had prior convictions but continued to re-offend.
The trial panel determined that the defendants' actions were dangerous to society and involved aggravating circumstances, therefore sentencing each defendant to 20 years in prison.
