"Selling drugs for someone else" sentenced to 20 years in prison

On the morning of January 22, 2018, the Provincial People's Court held a first-instance trial of the case of Va Tong Cu (born in 1974, residing in Huoi Xai 2 village, Tri Le commune, Que Phong district) for the crime of illegal drug trafficking.

Through public questioning in court, Va Tong Cu's criminal behavior was clarified: On the evening of July 25, 2017, Cu was at home when a Laotian man came to ask him to help sell a package of heroin and a package of crystal meth.

Defendant Va Tong Cu at the trial. Photo: Khang Hoa

The man told Cu, "A package of crystal meth can be sold for about 200 million VND and a package of heroin can be sold for about 20 million VND." Cu agreed.

At around 12:00 on September 19, 2017, a man named Thanh called Cu to ask him to buy the above drugs and made an appointment to meet at 9:00 p.m. on September 20, 2017 in Chau Kim commune, Que Phong district to buy and sell drugs.

While Cu and a man named Thanh were transacting, Que Phong District Police caught them red-handed and seized a package of white crystals and a plastic bag containing white powder from Cu's hands.

Taking advantage of the darkness, the man named Thanh escaped because his background could not be clarified, so there was no basis for prosecution.

After unsealing and examining the seized exhibits, Cu was prosecuted by the Procuracy for buying and selling 77.1 grams of heroin and 720 grams of crystal meth under Clause 4, Article 194 of the 1999 Penal Code, amended and supplemented in 2009.

At the trial, Va Tong Cu confessed his crime and repented. Realizing that Cu is an ethnic minority and illiterate, his legal awareness is somewhat limited.

After reviewing and weighing the aggravating and mitigating circumstances, the panel sentenced Va Tong Cu to 20 years in prison for the above crime.

Khang Hoa