Young man just released from prison 'starts a business' selling drugs, sentenced to life in prison

On January 20, the People's Court of Nghe An province opened a first-instance criminal trial of the defendants Nguyen Tuan Anh (born in 1989, residing in Trung Do ward, Vinh city), Nguyen Tien Loc (born in 1983, residing in Trung Phuc Cuong commune, Nam Dan district) and Dang Cong Bang (born in 1989, residing in Vinh Tan ward, Vinh city). In which, Nguyen Tuan Anh was prosecuted for the crime of "Illegal trading of narcotics"; Nguyen Cong Bang and Nguyen Tien Loc were prosecuted for the crime of "Illegal possession of drugs”.

According to the case, after completing his prison sentence and returning to his hometown, around May 2024, Nguyen Tuan Anh met Thang again at a beer house (that was the man Tuan Anh knew years ago when he went to Nghia Dan to play, but his background and address were unknown). During the conversation, Thang asked Tuan Anh if he sold drugs? Tuan Anh said he had just been released from prison and had no money, but Thang said he would sell them when he had money and pay later. Twenty days later, Thang gave Tuan Anh 24 packages of crystal meth to sell for 220 million VND. Tuan Anh hid them in the attic with the intention of selling them for profit.

On June 16, Nguyen Tien Loc called and gave Dang Cong Bang money to buy 5 million VND worth of crystal meth for his use. Bang agreed and contacted Tuan Anh. After receiving the "goods", Bang brought the drugs to Loc's rented room. Loc took out a small amount to use with Bang, and divided the rest into 4 small packages, keeping the paper in his shirt pocket for later use.

At around 3:30 p.m. on June 22, at a rented room in My Ha hamlet, Hung Loc commune, Vinh city, the police discovered and caught Nguyen Tien Loc red-handed, seizing the above drugs. On June 24, Dang Cong Bang turned himself in to the police. On July 15, Nguyen Tuan Anh was also arrested by the police with more than 1,600 grams of drugs.

Authorities determined that Nguyen Tuan Anh must bear criminal responsibility for the illegal purchase and sale of a total of more than 1,680 grams of drugs. Nguyen Tien Loc and Dang Cong Bang must bear criminal responsibility for the illegal possession of 1,832 grams of drugs.

At the trial, the defendants admitted to the crimes as charged in the indictment. Tuan Anh confessed that because he was greedy, he listened to the words of a man named Thang to buy drugs to sell for profit. Defendant Bang confessed that he only went to buy drugs for Loc. Regarding the money to buy drugs, Loc confessed that he had saved up while working. All defendants asked the court to consider reducing their sentences so that they could return to their families soon.

Of the three defendants, Tuan Anh and Bang both have bad personal records and have been in prison many times for crimes related to drugs, intentional injury, theft of property...

Considering the circumstances in court, the Trial Panel sentenced Nguyen Tuan Anh to life in prison for “Illegal drug trafficking”; Nguyen Tien Loc to 21 months in prison, and Dang Cong Bang to 18 months in prison, both for “Illegal possession of drugs”.