“Crocodile tears” of a woman who sells “white goods”

Unique trick to hide drugs in bra

Just being escorted to the People's Court of Nghe An province to be tried for the crime of "Illegal drug trafficking", defendant Tran Thi Hai (50 years old), residing in Tam Quang commune, Tuong Duong district, cried. Hai turned her head to look at her relatives who were standing in the hallway of the court, unable to enter the courtroom becauseCovid-19 epidemic. Her ex-husband and children did not come to court, Hai tried to talk to relatives to ask about the situation.

This is the second time Hai has stood before the witness stand. In 2002, Hai was sentenced to 14 years in prison for two crimes: "Illegal drug trafficking" and "Organizing illegal drug use". However, the years of reform in prison did not help Hai improve her character. Instead, this woman turned to drugs and became a trafficker of the substance that brought white death to many people.

Defendant Tran Thi Hai. Photo: Tran Vu

On April 10, 2021, at Vinh market (Vinh city), Hai met a man named Truong (unknown background and specific address). This man ordered 14 taels of heroin, Hai agreed, promising to inform him when he had it. 2 days later, Hai took the bus to Quy Hop town to buy drugs to sell to customers. Through a motorbike taxi driver, Hai easily bought 14 taels of heroin for 52 million VND.

After that, Hai returned to Vinh, carefully hiding the drugs in her rented room. Being a cunning person, Hai calculated very carefully, hiding the drugs in her jacket pocket and then putting them in the washing machine. In the evening, Hai received a phone call from a man named Truong informing her to take 5 taels of drugs in advance, for 17 million VND.

Hai took 5 packages of drugs and took a small amount of drugs, put them in a soft paper package and hid them in her bra for the customer to try. Then, the female monster drove her motorbike to Nguyen Canh Chan Street, Hong Son Ward, Vinh City. While Hai was waiting for the customer to deliver the drugs, she saw the police team on duty so she quickly dropped the drugs on the ground to destroy the evidence. The team asked Hai to pick up the 5 packages of drugs. Then, Hai voluntarily took out a package of drugs from her bra and handed it over to the police.

Searching Hai’s residence, the police discovered 9 more packages of drugs hidden in a jacket pocket in the washing machine. Hai admitted that the drugs were hers and were being hidden waiting for the right time to sell. Thus, the investigation agency determined that the total amount of drugs for which Tran Thi Hai must bear criminal responsibility was 52.265 grams.

Crocodile tears

At the trial, the defendant admitted to the crime as charged in the indictment but continuously blamed it on difficult circumstances and illness. Hai cried as he presented to the court: “After being released from prison, the defendant worked hard to make a living. The defendant used to work as a maid but that job was unstable. After that, the defendant studied beauty but because of the pandemic, that job was also affected, leaving the defendant without a job.”

Defendant Hai continuously cried, blaming his difficult circumstances and illness. Photo: Tran Vu

In response to the defendant’s presentation, a judge questioned: “The defendant said he had no stable job but participated in gambling and was recently administratively punished by the police. How does the defendant explain this issue?”. In response to that question, Hai cried and then fell silent.

When asked about the motive for committing the drug trafficking crime, Hai stated: “The defendant committed the crime because of the pressure of illness. The defendant has back pain and a herniated disc, so he needs money to buy medicine. He is currently living alone, so it is very difficult.” The defendant’s answer was further reminded by the court: “Not all difficulties and illnesses are violations of the law. Many people are in more difficult circumstances than the defendant, but they still work honestly and earn money...”.

The second time facing the verdict of the law, when asked by the writer about his thoughts, Hai said: "I feel regretful and guilty towards my children. Currently, my two children are working far away so they cannot come to court, and my ex-husband has a new family after divorcing me...".

Then Hai pondered: Sometimes I feel bored. At my age, many people have children and grandchildren, stable homes, but I don't, still have to rent a room and commit crimes like this... I regret it a lot, but now it's probably too late.

After considering the aggravating and mitigating circumstances, the panel sentenced defendant Tran Thi Hai to 16 years in prison for illegal drug trafficking.

The verdict was announced, Hai appeared quite calm, no longer crying or panicking like when the court was in session. Before being led away, the defendant calmly turned back to talk to his relatives. The tears from before were also gone...

Tran Vu