Dismantling a ring that used hospitals as locations for illegal drug trading in Nghe An

Previously, through understanding the situation, Vinh City Police discovered that a ring was using the hospital as a location for illegal drug trafficking.

The subjects participating in the ring are all from outside the area, trying to connect and supply drugs to those in need in the city and neighboring areas.

It is worth mentioning that the subjects are very sophisticated and reckless when choosing transaction locations right in the corridor of the treatment department's restroom or in the hospital grounds. Drugs and money to buy drugs are carefully disguised in bags of fruit and milk cakes brought to visit patients.

The leader of this drug trafficking ring is Vo Van Khue (born in 1973), residing in Vinh Thanh commune, Yen Thanh district. Khue had a previous conviction for drug trafficking, but he did not repent and continued to "go back to his old ways" and sink deeper into illegal behavior.

Although he was being treated for cirrhosis at a hospital in the city, Khue continued to operate an illegal drug trafficking ring. He took advantage of his inpatient treatment to organize illegal drug trafficking in the hospital area.

Due to a previous relationship, Vo Van Khue connected and brought Nguyen Van Thi (born in 1997), residing in Nhan Thanh commune, Yen Thanh district, to the hospital under the guise of being a family member taking care of Khue, but in reality, he was a "minion", directly dealing with people who wanted to illegally use drugs.

After buying the drugs, Khue brought them home, divided them into small pieces, and hid them in the bathroom and in his personal belongings. When someone asked to buy them, Khue told Thi to directly deal with them, making an appointment with the customer in front of the hospital gate or right in the hospital yard to deal with them.

Faced with the above situation, Vinh City Police have established a special project, assigned the Drug Crime Investigation Police Team to preside over the task, determined to eradicate the ring that takes advantage of the hospital to illegally buy and sell drugs as soon as possible.

To approach and understand the operating rules of the subjects, the Working Group of the Drug Crime Investigation Police Team, Vinh City Police has persistently and flexibly applied professional measures, coordinating with the hospital for a long time.

At about 11:35 a.m. on September 30, 2024, at a hospital located in Nghi Phu commune, Vinh City Police discovered and arrested 3 subjects: Vo Van Khue, Nguyen Van Thi and Le Van Dieu (born in 1995), residing in Quynh Xuan ward, Hoang Mai town for the act of storing and illegally trading drugs. At the scene, the police seized more than 45 plastic bags containing drugs and some other related evidence.

Then, on October 1, 2024, the Vinh City Police task force arrested the subject who specialized in supplying drugs to Khue, Tran Ha Thang (born in 1971), residing in Tung Chau commune, Duc Tho district, Ha Tinh province, for illegal drug trafficking. This subject also had 2 previous convictions for illegal drug trafficking.

During the investigation and expansion of the case, the profiles of the subjects in the inter-district drug ring were clearly identified by the Special Task Force. Among them, the couple Quang Van Diep (born in 1966) and Lo Thi Thanh (born in 1967), both residing in Muong Noc commune, Que Phong district, were the main suppliers of drugs to many “agents” throughout the country.

To transport drugs from Que Phong district to other areas for consumption, Tran Ha Thang hired Pham Kim Thong (born in 1961), residing in Tan Lac town, Quy Chau district, to directly deliver and receive "goods" from Diep and Thanh.

For each successful trip, Thang paid Thong an amount ranging from 5 to 7 million VND. On October 12, 2024, the Task Force successfully arrested Pham Kim Thong while he was hiding in Chau Thon commune, Que Phong district.

Also on the same day, the task force continued to arrest Quang Van Diep and Lo Thi Thanh at their home, seizing nearly 30 grams of drugs and many other related evidences.

Currently, the Vinh City Police Investigation Agency is continuing to investigate, expand the case and handle the subjects according to the provisions of law.