From dreams of a better life to imprisonment for drug-related crimes.
After working as a laborer, Vi Van Hao decided to go to Hanoi to study foreign languages in order to work abroad. However, seeing many drug addicts around his rented room, he conceived the idea of returning to his hometown to buy drugs to sell for profit. His actions were discovered, and Hao not only lost his dream of working abroad but also wasted his youth in prison.
The idea of becoming a drug dealer arose when he saw many drug addicts.
The trial of defendant Vi Van Hao (32 years old), residing in Muong Ngoc commune, Que Phong district, for the crime of illegally trading narcotics, proceeded quite quickly as the defendant admitted his guilt. However, the circumstances of his downfall left many feeling regretful. Because of momentary greed, he shattered his dream of going abroad. Furthermore, his involvement with drugs has cost Hao dearly.
Vi Van Hao's criminal activities stemmed from his trip to Hanoi in early 2024 to study foreign languages in preparation for working in Taiwan. During his language studies, Hao noticed many drug addicts around his rented accommodation, which gave him the idea to return to his hometown to buy drugs and sell them.
In August 2024, Hao returned home for a visit, but the thought of bringing drugs to Hanoi to sell still lingered in his mind. Instead of pushing aside that wrong idea, Hao chose to get involved in the drug trade.
On November 4, 2024, Hao walked to the wooded hill behind his house to buy drugs. After meeting a Hmong person (whose identity and background are unknown), Hao ordered nearly 40 million VND worth of drugs. The seller agreed, received the money, and about 20 minutes later returned to give Hao a package of drugs.
After bringing the drugs home, Hao divided them into several small packages and sealed them with black glue. After disguising the drugs, he hid them along the wall of his house. Two days later, Vi Van Hao took a bus to Hanoi with the drugs, intending to sell them to addicts in his neighborhood. However, en route, he was arrested by the Nghia Dan District police along with over 115 grams of drugs.
At the trial, the defendant expressed remorse and admitted to the crimes as charged in the indictment. The defendant confessed that while studying English in Hanoi for overseas employment in Taiwan, he noticed many people in his boarding house were addicted to drugs, which gave him the idea to deal drugs despite knowing that it was against the law.
The dream of going abroad is shattered.
Regarding the source of the money used to buy drugs, the defendant testified that it came from savings accumulated while working at a company. “While working as a factory worker in the North, I saved up a sum of money. I used part of it to pay for foreign language lessons, and the rest I intended to use to pay for overseas employment. But then, I used it to traffic drugs,” Hao testified in court.
The defendant expressed remorse for his criminal actions that had caused his mother distress. According to Hao's account, due to difficult circumstances and the early death of his father, he only completed the 6th grade before dropping out of school. After helping his family at home for a while, Hao applied for a job at a company.
Although Hào was earning enough money to support himself, he felt unstable. Wanting to break free and find a better job that could provide for himself and his mother, Hào decided to quit his job at the company.
Later, this young man enrolled in a language course at a center in preparation for working abroad in Taiwan. However, during his language studies, Hao succumbed to the allure of drugs. He bought drugs with the intention of reselling them, shattering his dream of working abroad.
At the trial, the defendant showed remorse and acknowledged that his actions were wrong. Hao expressed his guilt towards his mother, who had placed her hopes in him for many years. During the trial, the defendant asked the court to consider mitigating circumstances so that he could have the opportunity to return home, rebuild his life, and repay his mother's kindness.
The judges adjourned for deliberation, and the vast courtroom fell silent. Hao glanced down, searching for his relatives, but no one was present. The defendant sat quietly, his head bowed in sadness. If he hadn't gotten involved with drugs, he might have already emigrated, with a chance to find a new life. But now, it was too late for this young man…
The court determined that the defendant had full criminal responsibility and was fully aware that the illegal buying and selling of narcotics was against the law. However, the defendant disregarded the law, bought drugs to resell for profit, and deliberately spread the seeds of crime in society, therefore a severe punishment is necessary.
However, several mitigating circumstances should also be considered for the defendant, such as his sincere confession, remorse, and the fact that his grandfather was awarded the First Class Resistance Medal. After considering all aspects of the case, the panel of judges sentenced defendant Vi Văn Hào to 20 years in prison for the crime of illegally trading narcotics.
Once a young man full of ambition, Hao lost his future because of a moment of weakness. The path ahead now leads to imprisonment, but it is also a time for Hao to reflect on himself, correct his mistakes, and start anew. Hopefully, during his time in prison, Hao will realize the true value of freedom and family ties, so that one day he can return, rebuild his life, and repay his parents' kindness.