Foreign medical staff reveal the reason for bringing 5 kg of drugs into Vietnam

The case of Tia Tong Long Vu (born in 1985, Lao nationality) was brought to trial at a time when Vinh City was still implementing social distancing to prevent and combat the Covid-19 epidemic according to Directive 15, and the control of people from other provinces entering and leaving the city was still being tightened. Perhaps, that was why the family, wife and children of defendant Tia could not attend the trial.

Many times, the defendant Tia looked around for his relatives but behind him were empty rows of chairs. It seemed that he had been waiting to see his family after a year apart because this could be the last time. Tia was prosecuted by the People's Procuracy of Nghe An province and brought to court for trial for the crime of "Illegal trading of narcotics" with the highest penalty being the death penalty.

Tia attended a medical college in Ha Tinh, studied and lived in Vietnam for 4 years, but perhaps it was too long, causing him to forget most of his Vietnamese. The questioning and public debate at the trial had to go through an interpreter.

Defendant Tia was escorted out of court after the death sentence was announced. Photo: Nhu Binh

After graduating from medical school, Tia worked at the Xay Cham Phon District Health Office, Bolikhamsay Province, Lao PDR. Tia has a stable job, a young wife and two children, 10 and 7 years old. The interpreter confirmed that during her work, Tia claimed that she was not addicted to drugs. Therefore, Tia's arrest for being involved with this deadly banned substance surprised her relatives.

According to police documents, on the evening of October 25, 2020, Tia Tong Long Vu was arrested by the Drug Crime Investigation Police Department of Nghe An Provincial Police in coordination with Phuc Son Border Guard Station (Provincial Border Guard Command) while conducting a drug transaction at a location in Phuc Son Commune (Anh Son District, Nghe An). The evidence seized by the authorities from Tia was 5 kg of crystal meth.

At the time of arrest, Tia falsified her name and address, saying her name was Tu Ly (born in 1987), residing in Kham Cot district, Bolikhamxay province. However,fake informationThe drugs Tia provided were quickly exposed by the authorities of the two countries. Knowing that she could not escape Vietnamese law, Tia confessed that she received the drugs from two Lao men, under the direction of Cong Ly (Lao nationality), to bring them to Vietnam to deliver to customers. The transaction would have been completed in the early morning of October 25 if Tia had not gotten lost. If this drug transaction was successful, Tia Tong Long Vu would receive 1,000 USD.

“According to the defendant Tia Tong Long Vu, it was the large salary that blinded him. With his current salary, Tia is paid 1.5 million Lao kip per month, while 1,000 USD is equivalent to 9 million kip, equal to half of Tia’s yearly salary. The defendant was also scared, but he reassured himself that no one would know...”, the interpreter recounted.

"If the transaction of 5 kg of crystal meth is successful, Tia will receive 1,000 USD." Photo: Archive

At the trial, defendant Tia Tong Long Vu admitted to the actions as charged in the indictment. As a person working in the medical field, the defendant is very aware of the harmful effects of drugs on people and their consequences on social life. However, this man claimed that he committed the crime of “Illegal transportation of narcotics” and not the crime of “Illegal trading of narcotics” as charged by the Provincial People’s Procuracy.

The representative of the People's Procuracy of Nghe An province, who held the right to prosecute at the trial, analyzed that, based on the evidence and documents collected, this agency prosecuted Tia Tong Long Vu for the crime of "Illegal drug trafficking" with the right person, the right crime, and no injustice.

Tia Tong Long Vu hopes to enjoy the leniency of Vietnamese law so that he can have the opportunity to return to his hometown, his family and relatives. The panel of judges determined that the amount of drugs that the defendant participated in buying and selling was exceptionally large, violating the state's monopoly on drug management... requiring a very severe sentence, with enough deterrence and general prevention.

After considering the case comprehensively, the panel sentenced Tia Tong Long Vu to death. With this sentence, Tia Tong Long Vu's path back to his homeland has almost closed...