Drug addict sentenced to 15 years in prison for recidivism

On December 12, Nghe An Provincial People's Court opened the first instance trial of defendant Phan Thanh Lam (born 1993), residing in Hanh Lam commune, Thanh Chuong district (Nghe An) for the crime of "Illegal drug trafficking”.

This is the second time this defendant has committed a drug-related crime. Previously in 2019, this young man was sentenced to 24 months in prison for illegal drug trafficking. After completing his prison sentence, Lam returned to his hometown but then "reoffended".

The indictment stated that on the afternoon of July 23, 2024, Phan Thanh Lam took a bus to Luong Minh commune, Tuong Duong district with the intention of buying drugs. When he met a Mong ethnic person standing on the side of the road, Lam asked to buy 18 million VND worth of drugs. After handing over the money, Lam waited for about 30 minutes before that person returned to hand over a plastic bag containing white powder.

Lam brought the drugs home to hide for use and to sell gradually. On the morning of July 26, a man contacted Lam to buy 1 heroin stick (about 35 grams) for 25 million VND. Lam agreed and set up a time and place for the drug transaction.

At 12 noon that same day, Lam put drugs in cigarette boxes and rode his motorbike to the meeting place to sell the “goods”. However, on the way, he was discovered and arrested by the authorities. The evidence of the case was more than 43 grams of drugs.

At the trial, the defendant admitted to the crime as charged in the indictment. The defendant admitted to buying drugs for personal use and retailing to addicts. The defendant asked the court to consider reducing his sentence.

The panel of judges determined that the defendant's actions violated the law and were dangerous to society, so they sentenced Phan Thanh Lam to 15 years in prison for the crime of illegal drug trafficking.