Death penalty for 2 defendants in 'huge' drug trafficking ring

On April 10, the People's Court of Nghe An province opened a first-instance criminal trial of defendant Dao Huu Phu (born in 1987), residing in Phong Thinh commune, Thanh Chuong district, for the crime of "Illegal trading of narcotics". Defendant Nguyen Ngoc Nam (born in 1983), residing in Thanh Hoa commune, Thanh Chuong district, for the crime of "Illegal transportation of narcotics".drug" and Dau Dinh Son (born in 1984), residing in Thanh Lam commune, Thanh Chuong district, for the crime of "Failure to report a crime".

The two defendants Dao Huu Phu and Nguyen Ngoc Nam were sentenced to death. Photo: Tran Vu

According to the case file, from April 17, 2021 to April 26, 2021, Dao Huu Phu contacted a Laotian (unknown origin and address) to order more than 7.4 kg of drugs to resell for profit.

On April 24 and 26, 2021, Phu transferred a total of 400 million VND to a person in Laos to buy drugs 5 times. On the afternoon of April 23, 2021, Phu asked Nguyen Ngoc Nam to go to Cau Treo Border Gate (Ha Tinh) to receive drugs and bring them back to Phu for a fee of 50 million VND.

At around 9:30 a.m. on April 26, 2021, Phu gave Nam a car to transport drugs. After receiving the drugs from the Laotian, Nam turned the car around to Nghe An. At around 12:45 p.m. the same day, when Nam drove the car carrying drugs to Son Tay commune, Huong Son district, he was discovered and caught red-handed by the police.

While Nam was collecting drugs, Son drove Phu to Ha Tinh. When they reached Son Tay commune, Huong Son district, Phu saw the police force so he turned around and ran into the cemetery to hide. A short time later, both were arrested by the police.

Dau Dinh Son was the one who knew Phu was illegally buying and selling drugs in large quantities, but when Nghe An Provincial Police took him to the headquarters to investigate and clarify the matter, Son did not report Phu's crime. On April 29, 2021, Son turned himself in for not reporting Phu's drug trafficking.

With an exceptionally large amount of drugs, the court sentenced the two defendants Dao Huu Phu and Nguyen Ngoc Nam to death. The defendant Dau Dinh Son was sentenced to 24 months in prison for “Failure to report a crime”./.