The calculation of the Lao man who crossed the forest to bring drugs to Vietnam

On November 28, the People's Court of Nghe An province opened the first instance trial of defendant Chu Xenh Lau (born 1975), residing in Noong Het Tay village cluster, Noong Het district, Xieng Khouang province (Laos) for the crime of illegal drug trafficking.

According to the indictment, at about 10:00 a.m. on June 22, 2024, a man introducing himself as Giong Xênh Vư (residing in Xieng Khuang province) came to Lau's camp to discuss hiring him to bring 5 packages of drugs to Vietnam to sell to customers for 6 million VND.

Lau agreed to the promise of receiving 1 million Lao kip as payment. The man received the drugs and took the phone number of the drug buyer in Nghe An. Lau then called the buyer to agree on the time and place of the drug transaction.

At 3 p.m. the same day, Lau walked across the small road to Huoi Poc village, Na Ngoi commune, Ky Son district to wait for customers to pick up drugs, then was arrested by Na Ngoi Border Guard Station in coordination with the functional forces. The evidence of the case was about 1,000 drug pills with a total weight of more than 84 grams of drugs.

At the trial, the defendant admitted to bringing drugs to Vietnam for sale. He said he committed the crime because he wanted money to buy clothes for his wife and support his children.

The defendant expressed remorse and hoped to receive leniency from Vietnamese law so he could soon return home to reunite with his wife and four children.

The panel of judges determined that the defendant's actions violated Vietnamese law and were dangerous to society.

After a comprehensive review of the case, the court sentenced defendant Chu Xenh Lau to 15 years in prison for illegal drug trafficking.