Nghe An: Many defendants jailed for 'showing routes' to deceive people into going to the US.
Despite not being licensed to operate a labor export program, driven by greed, the individuals colluded to illegally facilitate the migration of two workers to the United States. When the operation was discovered, the ringleader fled, while the accomplices were subsequently brought to court and sentenced to prison.
On January 27th, the People's Court of Nghe An province opened the first-instance trial of defendants Ngo Thi Diem (36 years old), residing in Dien Chau commune; Nguyen Van Hai (41 years old), residing in Quang Dong commune; Nguyen Van Tri (born in 1969), residing in Nghi Loc commune (Nghe An); Nguyen Thi Hanh (born in 1978, residing in Ha Tinh); and Dinh Quang Thieu (31 years old, residing in Hanoi) on charges of ""Organizing the escape of others to foreign countries."
According to the case file, although Diễm, Hải, Trí, Hạnh, and Thiều were not licensed by competent state agencies to operate in the field of recruiting, organizing, or brokering the sending of Vietnamese people to work abroad, they colluded with each other for profit to advise, receive money and documents, and then transfer them to Nguyễn Thị Vân (born in 1987, residing in Diễn Châu commune, Nghệ An province).
From April 2024 to January 2025, these individuals organized the illegal entry of Mr. Ho Trong T. into the United States by arranging for him to travel to various countries as a tourist, then to Mexico, and finally cross the border into the US. After being admitted to refugee camps in the US, he would be sponsored to work outside the camp at a cost of between $62,000 and $65,000.
At the same time, Ngo Thi Diem directly advised and received money and documents from Huynh Le Nhut D., then transferred them to Nguyen Thi Van to organize D.'s illegal trip to the United States. In June 2024, following the instructions of the perpetrators, T and D. were present in Ho Chi Minh City to complete the procedures for exiting the country to Malaysia. When the two workers arrived in Malaysia, Van called and demanded that their families deposit 8,000 USD (they had previously paid a deposit of 25 million VND).
In early July, T. and D. were arranged to fly from Malaysia to enter China. However, upon arriving at the Chinese airport, both were checked by local authorities, their documents were found to be invalid, and they were forced to return to Vietnam.
After returning to Vietnam, T. and D. both wished to go to the US, so the perpetrators arranged for them to travel through various countries and enter Suriname to find a way to enter the US. In August 2024, Van instructed Diem to continue collecting $35,000 from the families.
After a long wait in Suriname without being able to travel to the US, the workers requested Van and Diem to bring them back to Vietnam. Because Van absconded and cut off contact, Diem later sent money for T. and D. to return home in early 2025. Subsequently, Nguyen Thi Van was wanted by the Nghe An police.
Before the witness stand, the defendants admitted their crimes. They confessed that they contacted each other and organized the illegal emigration of others for the sake of commission fees.
The panel of judges determined that the defendant's actions were dangerous to society, committed intentionally, and directly violated the State's administrative management activities in the field of emigration, therefore requiring strict punishment.
After a comprehensive review of the case, the court sentenced Ngo Thi Diem to 18 months in prison; Nguyen Van Hai and Nguyen Thi Hanh received 12 months in prison. Defendants Nguyen Van Tri and Dinh Quang Thieu received 12 months in prison but were given suspended sentences.
