The 4.6 billion VND drug deal of the boss in Vinh city

On December 16, the People's Court of Nghe An province opened a first-instance criminal trial of the defendants Nguyen Phi Hung (born 1978), Le Hong Hai (born 1977), Le Ba Thao (born 1980), all residing in Vinh City, and Lau Ba Chong (born 1995, residing in Muong Tip commune, Ky Son district), for the crime ofIllegal drug traffickingIn addition, the two defendants Hung and Hai were also prosecuted for the crime of illegal possession of narcotics.

According to the investigation agency's documents, around April 2019, Chong met a man named Denh (Laotian). Denh said he sold drugs to Nguyen Phi Hung, so he asked Chong to go get the money from selling drugs.

After contacting, on the evening of July 2, 2019, Hung gave Chong 200,000 USD (more than 4.6 billion) to pay Denh for buying drugs and 50 million VND for the work. After that, Hung called Le Hong Hai to go to the Ho Chi Minh road area near the intersection of Thanh Thuy commune, Thanh Chuong district to transport drugs.

On the way, Hung called and sent Thao on a detour to Ha Tinh, to meet at the Ho Chi Minh trail near Thanh Thuy intersection.

Subject Hung (gray shirt) and accomplices in court. Photo: Tran Vu

At 3 a.m. on July 3, 2020, Hung, Hai, and Thao met at the trail area. When they arrived at Thanh Thuy commune, the three cars were parked on the side of the road. Chong opened the car door, carried a backpack containing money, and ran up the hill. A moment later, some Lao people ran down and put drugs in the car of Hung and his accomplices.

After receiving the drugs, the subjects returned to Vinh City. When the 3 cars arrived at Highway 46B in Hamlet 8, Thanh Thuy Commune, they were arrested by the police. The evidence was many types of drugs with a total weight of more than 46 kg.

In addition, when searching Hung's residence, the police seized 2.875 grams of marijuana. At Hai's house, 1.445 grams of drugs were seized.

The investigation agency determined that Hung was the mastermind of a transnational drug trafficking ring from Laos to Vietnam with sophisticated operations. Therefore, Hung was responsible for leading it.

Lau Ba Chong was identified as the active practitioners in the case. Le Hong Hai and Le Ba Thao were the active practitioners, directly using cars to receive and transport drugs for Hung.

At court, while the three defendants Thao, Hai, and Chong admitted their crimes, Hung denied them. However, based on the defendants' statements and the collected documents, there was enough evidence to prove Hung's crimes.

With an especially large amount of drugs, the People's Court sentenced Nguyen Phi Hung, Le Hong Hai, Lau Ba Chong to death, and sentenced Le Ba Thao to life in prison.