'Old habits die hard', just finished life sentence and back in jail

On March 30, the People's Court of Nghe An province opened a first-instance criminal trial of defendant Lang Van Hoa (born 1976), residing in Chau Kim commune, Que Phong district (Nghe An) for the crime of "Illegal drug trafficking".

Lang Van Hoa was sentenced to prison.life imprisonmentfor “Illegal possession of narcotics” in 1998. In 2014, Hoa was released from prison. After returning to his hometown for a while, Hoa was arrested again for drug addiction.

Defendant Lang Van Hoa received a life sentence. Photo: Tran Vu

The indictment stated that at around 6 p.m. on October 2, 2021, a man named Phuong (unknown background and address) came to Hoa’s house to buy two packages of pink meth for 6 million VND. Hoa agreed and promised to inform him when he had purchased the “goods”.

The next afternoon, Hoa ordered 23 packages of methamphetamine (more than 423 grams) from a man in Tri Le commune, Que Phong district for 45 million VND to resell for profit. Hoa asked to pay 25 million VND in advance, and delay the rest.

On the same afternoon, Hoa went to the meeting point Doc Chuoi, Chau Kim commune, Que Phong district to get drugs from the bushes along the road. Afterwards, Hoa brought the drugs to his house to hide. While Hoa was selling a package of drugs to a customer, Que Phong district police in coordination with Nghe An province Customs Department raided and caught him red-handed. Searching Lang Van Hoa's residence, the authorities discovered more packages of drugs.

At the trial, the defendant admitted to the crime as charged in the indictment. Defendant Hoa stated that due to circumstances, he bought drugs on debt to sell.

Based on the severity of the defendant's crime, the Procuracy proposed a sentence of 20 years in prison for Hoa.

However, after a comprehensive review of the case, the People's Court sentenced Lang Van Hoa to life in prison for illegal drug trafficking.