Returning to the 'old ways' and the consequences for those who disregard the law.
Just a few months after being released from prison, Tran Viet Hung returned to his old ways – drug trafficking. Because he was new and short on money, Hung took on the "task" of selling the drugs, while his subordinates handled the supply. In a short time, the group sold drugs to customers numerous times. When their operation was busted, Hung paid the price with his life.
Released from prison, he immediately started dealing drugs.
The People's Court of Nghe An province recently held a first-instance trial for the defendants: Tran Viet Hung (born 1977), Nguyen Xuan Thuy (born 1992), Nguyen Truong Sinh (born 1989), all residing in Hanoi; An Thi Tam (born 1991, residing in Hung Yen province); and Bui Thi Phuong (born 1977, residing in Hai Phong city) on charges of "illegally trading narcotics". In addition, defendants Hung, Tam, and Sinh were also tried for "illegally possessing and using military weapons".
The ringleader of this drug trafficking operation was the defendant Hung. Tall, dark-skinned, and with white hair, Hung stood out among the other defendants in court. He appeared quite calm throughout the trial and answered the questions of the panel of judges clearly and concisely.
During the background check, Hung stated that this was not his first time in court. Previously, he had been sentenced to 15 months in prison for intentional infliction of injury. In 2022, Hung was again sentenced to 24 months in prison for illegal trafficking of narcotics. After serving his sentence, Hung was released from prison in July 2024.
According to investigative documents, just four months after his release from prison, this man tried to return to his old ways. Hung contacted a man named Hoc (residing in Nghe An, identity unknown) to discuss drug trafficking. They agreed that since Hung had just been released, he would handle the distribution of the drugs, while Hoc would supply them. Hung would pay Hoc after all the drugs were sold.
Later, Hoc gave Hung 20 packets of methamphetamine. At the same time, he also gave Hung a rubber bullet gun along with 6 rubber bullets and 7 metal bullets to hide. Hung hid the drugs in the guesthouse he was renting, and took the gun and bullets home. Some time later, Hung gave the gun to An Thi Tam and Nguyen Truong Sinh.
From the end of November 2024 to December 2024, Tran Viet Hung, along with Bui Thi Phuong (Hung's girlfriend) and Nguyen Truong Sinh, sold drugs to Nguyen Xuan Thuy and An Thi Tam twice.
Specifically, on November 28, 2024, Thuy and Tam first went to a guesthouse to meet Hung and bought 10 packets of methamphetamine (worth 50 million VND). Thuy and Tam then sold the drugs to several people and divided the money among themselves. Subsequently, on the evening of December 8, 2024, Hung, Phuong, and Sinh sold 10 packets of methamphetamine to Tam and Thuy for 50 million VND.
By the evening of December 21, 2024, having almost run out of drugs, Hung went to Nghe An to meet Hoc to receive over 4.7 kg of narcotics with the intention of bringing them to Hanoi to sell to customers. However, unlike the previous time when the operation went smoothly, this time Tran Viet Hung was arrested by the police along with the evidence. Based on Hung's confession, other links in the case were successively apprehended by the authorities.
The investigating agency determined that in this case, Tran Viet Hung is criminally liable for three instances of illegally buying and selling over 5.1 kg of drugs. An Thi Tam and Nguyen Xuan Thuy are criminally liable for two instances of buying and selling drugs totaling 387.564g. Bui Thi Phuong and Nguyen Truong Sinh are responsible for buying and selling 10 packages of drugs weighing 193.715g. In addition, Hung and Tam are responsible for illegally possessing seven rounds of military ammunition.
The ringleader was sentenced to death.
At the trial, all defendants admitted to their crimes. They justified their actions by stating that due to difficult circumstances and a lack of stable employment, they colluded to illegally buy and sell drugs. The money earned from drug trafficking was divided among them for personal use. Many defendants in the case admitted to being heavily addicted to drugs. Among them, Nguyen Xuan Thuy had previously experienced methamphetamine-induced psychosis, and his relatives had to report it to the authorities for intervention.
As the main defendant in the case, Hung confessed that he had recently been released from prison and lacked stable employment, which led to his recidivism. Hung admitted that because he lacked money, he took on the task of selling the drugs, which were supplied by Hoc. After each sale, he used the money for his expenses. Facing the death penalty, Hung pleaded with the court to consider mitigating circumstances so that he could have a chance to live and rebuild his life.
The defense lawyer for the defendant argued that Hung committed the crime while in difficult circumstances, having divorced his wife. Although he was a repeat offender, he still had the potential for rehabilitation. After his arrest, Hung confessed honestly and clearly presented the details of the case, helping authorities quickly clarify the matter. Therefore, the lawyer hoped the court would consider these circumstances and give the defendant a chance to live.
Throughout the trial, Hung appeared quite calm, even smiling occasionally. However, when he heard the representative of the Nghe An People's Procuracy proposing the death penalty, Hung could not hide his anxiety and confusion. The defendant's hands rested tightly on the witness stand, his head bowed, his eyes closed. For a moment, Hung silently wiped his eyes with his hands, concealing the tension on his face.
Given the opportunity to speak his final words before the court adjourned to deliberate, defendant Tran Viet Hung asked the panel of judges to consider giving him a chance to live, so that he could fulfill his filial duties to his family and rebuild his life.
During the recess, seeing his relatives crying below, the defendant repeatedly turned his head to look down. After a few words of encouragement, Hung sat withdrawn in the vast courtroom. Divorced from his wife and having served time in prison, Hung still plunged back into the same mistakes of his life. And now, with his hair turning gray, Hung must stand trial to pay the price for his actions.
Despite Tran Viet Hung's repeated pleas for a chance to live, due to the exceptionally large quantity of drugs and his criminal record, the Nghe An Provincial People's Court sentenced him to death. Along with the crime of illegal drug trafficking, defendant An Thi Tam was sentenced to 20 years in prison, Nguyen Xuan Thuy to 21 years and 3 months, Bui Thi Phuong to 17 years, and Nguyen Truong Sinh to 18 years.
The death sentence closed the trial, also closing the path to freedom for Tran Viet Hung. At nearly 50 years old, with his hair already white, the defendant paid a heavy price for choosing to return to the "vicious cycle" of drug addiction just months after his release from prison. He had the chance to rebuild his life, but Hung could not overcome the temptation of money and his dependence on drugs.
The price of greed and recklessness is not just years behind bars, but lives. The trial concluded, leaving behind the sighs of grief from loved ones and a costly lesson for those who still disregard the strictness of the law.