Exposing the lavish life of "internet" gangsters
As a famous figure in the underworld, Trinh Xuan Truong (Nam Dinh) or also known as Truong “con” is often known for his videos teaching moral lessons on social networks, along with a luxurious life that does not need money. However, it was only when Truong “con” was arrested by Nghe An Provincial Police that many fans learned about the “dark side” of that luxurious life…
From moral preaching videos…
Not only appearing many times in the livestreams of online gangsters, Trinh Xuan Truong also impressed many people with his "dusty" appearance with many tattoos, wearing large gold necklaces and bracelets, wearing a baseball cap, wearing black glasses with a stylish mustache. On social networks, Truong always shows himself to have a wild lifestyle and especially his lavish life that seems to not care about money.
Trinh Xuan Truong (born in 1972), originally from Nam Hoa hamlet, Xuan Tan commune, Xuan Truong district (Nam Dinh province) is often known by the nickname Truong "son".
In addition, Truong "con" is also known by many other names such as "Saint of freeloading", "Golden chopsticks in the freeloading village"... These nicknames were given to Truong "con" by other online gangsters. The reason Truong "con" has this nickname comes from the fact that he once invited more than a dozen friends and "social brothers" to a restaurant for a grand meeting. However, when paying the bill, Truong said that he forgot to bring money and asked his brothers to pay for him. Although Truong "con" explained that it was just a joke, this nickname has followed him for a long time and has become so famous that whenever Truong "con" is mentioned, netizens think of... freeloading.
To "gain a place" in the online community, Truong was not afraid of verbal fights and threats with other famous online gangsters at that time. In particular, Trinh Xuan Truong often posted videos about moral lessons. Through many livestreams, Truong often preached morality, declaring that he would never use drugs, such as "I just want to tell you guys exactly one thing: You can play anything, but don't play rock, grass, candy, or ketamine. Never get addicted. It will ruin your whole head, you will no longer be clear-headed. I don't play, I'll take it and throw it away." Therefore, Truong emerged as a new phenomenon, attracting a large number of followers and idols.
Not only that, Truong "con" also regularly posts clips that cause a stir on social networks and boasts that he earns 50 - 60 million VND per month and that his life is not about money.
At that time, Truong "con" also introduced his lover many times as Nguyen Thi Phuong (born in 1986), residing in hamlet 5, Quynh Hong commune, Quynh Luu district, Nghe An.
Having had a broken marriage, Truong always shared his desire for a warm family and called it “a small meal, big happiness”. Therefore, when he met Nguyen Thi Phuong - a woman who had failed her marriage once, Truong realized that this was the “true love” of his life.
Truong repeatedly declared, “I am not rich, but I will give you a happy life” and did not care what society said. Truong left his hometown, moved to Nghe An, rented a room and lived with Nguyen Thi Phuong as husband and wife. Since publicly introducing Phuong to the online community, Truong "son" has often shared his luxurious life with his girlfriend.
However, when Truong "son" was finally arrested for transporting drugs for profit, many fans learned the true nature of an "internet" gangster idol.
Take lover to transport "goods"
As early as December 2019, the Drug Crime Investigation Police Department, Nghe An Provincial Police discovered a drug ring from the mountainous districts of Nghe An to Vinh city and then transferred to other provinces and cities for consumption. This drug ring has many branches scattered in several provinces and cities, making it extremely difficult to track down the subjects.
Through professional measures, investigators determined that drugs were often purchased from Laos and transported across the border into Nghe An to other provinces and cities. From some clues indicating that the subjects would carry out an “exchange”, the Drug Crime Investigation Police Department immediately coordinated with the Tuong Duong District Police to arrest them.
At around 3:00 a.m. on January 3, 2020, in the Muoi Mac village area, Lang Khe commune, Con Cuong district (Nghe An province), the authorities discovered a suspicious vehicle and immediately signaled it to stop. At that time, on the vehicle were Nguyen Thi Phuong, Trinh Xuan Truong and Pham Ly Vu Duy (born in 1984), residing in Bac Lieu province.
As soon as the police stopped him, Phuong was afraid of being arrested so she urged Duy to drive away. Listening to Phuong, Duy accelerated and drove away, causing the car to collide with a police car of Tuong Duong district, causing serious damage to the two cars of the arresting force. At that time, Phuong immediately rolled down the window and threw the evidence out of the car in an attempt to destroy the evidence.
To ensure the safety of the arresting force and the people living near the area, the task force fired warning shots into the air, then shot all four tires of the car. However, the subjects stubbornly ran for another 700m before stopping. When the subjects opened the car door to escape, they were restrained and arrested by the police. Evidence seized at the scene included 1kg of ketamine and a white pickup truck.
At the police station, the subjects confessed to all their crimes. It is known that initially, Phuong confessed that she received a phone call from an unknown person who wanted to buy 1kg of drugs for 280 million VND. Seeing the huge profit in front of her, Phuong invited her lover to buy drugs to sell for profit.
A fitting ending for the couple
At the end of August 2020, the People's Court of Nghe An province opened the first instance trial of Trinh Xuan Truong, his mistress Nguyen Thi Phuong and Pham Ly Vu Duy. Both Truong and Phuong were prosecuted for "Illegal drug trafficking". In which, Nguyen Thi Phuong was prosecuted for her role in the case, Trinh Xuan Truong for his active role in the illegal drug trafficking case. As for Pham Ly Duy Vu, he was prosecuted for "Resisting a person on official duty".
At the trial, there was no sign of Truong's relatives because his parents were both sick. Truong "son" was the eldest of three siblings. Although he was given the opportunity to study, Truong did not study properly but followed his friends to have fun and compete. Therefore, after only 8th grade, Truong dropped out of school to follow his friends to work everywhere.
After going to the South and the North without success, Truong returned to his hometown to borrow money from his parents to do business, but in the end he made his elderly parents shoulder a debt of more than 200 million VND. At the trial, Truong confessed that his lover invited him to go, and that he participated out of "respect" for his lover, not because he was the mastermind of the case. Duy was hired by Phuong to drive the car but did not know that Phuong was going to get drugs. At the time of his arrest, because Phuong incited him, Duy panicked and drove the car, causing the above incident.
It is known that defendant Nguyen Thi Phuong has been tried twice for drug-related crimes. The defendants admitted their crimes, confessed honestly and showed remorse. When given the final say, Trinh Xuan Truong hoped the panel of judges would consider reducing the sentence not only for himself, but also for his lover so that he could soon return to the community to "start a new life".
Considering the role of each defendant in the case, the People's Court of Nghe An province sentenced Nguyen Thi Phuong to life in prison, Trinh Xuan Truong to 20 years in prison for "Illegal drug trafficking", and defendant Pham Ly Vu Duy to 2 years in prison for "Resisting a person on official duty".