Buying and selling more than 600 heroin cakes, two brothers face death penalty

From late 2012 to August 2013, Hanh and her younger brother transported, stored and traded more than 600 heroin cakes, earning more than 3 million USD, 4,000 Australian dollars and more than 18.9 billion VND.

This morning (October 26), the High Court of Appeal in Ho Chi Minh City postponed the criminal trial so that the panel of judges could review and clarify some details related to the case file. The court will announce the time for the resumption of the trial later.

Two brothers face death sentence for drug trafficking - Photo: Minh Chau

This is a trial opened following the defendants’ appeal for a reduction in sentence. Previously, on April 3, 2015, the People’s Court of Binh Duong province held a first-instance trial and sentenced Le Dinh Kiem (33 years old, from Nghe An) to death for “Illegal possession of narcotics” and “Illegal trading of narcotics”.

Kiem's ​​brother, Le Van Hanh (41 years old), also received the same sentence for "Illegal drug trafficking"; Dang Thi Thanh (29 years old, Kiem's ​​wife) received 23 years in prison for 2 crimes of "Illegal possession of drugs" and "Illegal drug trafficking"; Ngo Thi My Van (51 years old, living in Ho Chi Minh City) was sentenced to life in prison for "Illegal drug trafficking" and Le Van Nhat (20 years old, from Nghe An) received 2 years in prison for "Concealing criminals".

After the first instance verdict, four defendants (in addition to defendant Le Van Nhat) filed an appeal for a reduced sentence and the appellate court opened a trial on October 23. According to the first instance verdict, from the end of 2012 to August 2013, Kiem and Hanh transported, stored and traded more than 600 heroin cakes, earning more than 3 million USD, 4,000 Australian dollars and more than 18.9 billion VND; of which Kiem earned nearly 4 billion VND.

On August 5, 2013, the police caught Ngo Thi My Van (51 years old, residing in District 10, Ho Chi Minh City) transporting 2 heroin cakes purchased from Kiem. Expanding the investigation, Binh Duong Province Police urgently arrested Kiem and searched his residence, seizing 34 heroin cakes. Defendant Kiem's ​​wife, Dang Thi Thanh, helped her husband hide and trade drugs.

From the end of 2012 until his arrest, through his brother named Hanh, Kiem transported a total of more than 600 heroin cakes and 879.70 grams of synthetic drugs (crystal meth) from Nghe An to Binh Duong, selling them for millions of USD.

According to Ho Chi Minh City police