Two foreigners sentenced to death for smuggling drugs into Vietnam
From a call to order drugs from a partner in Vietnam, two foreign men immediately discussed how to sell the “goods”. After finding a source to buy drugs on debt, the couple crossed the border to bring more than 3.5 kg to the other side of the border.
However, before the transaction could take place, both were arrested and received the maximum sentence.
"Catching" transnational drug trafficking ring
In late 2023, the anti-drug and crime force of Nghe An Border Guard received information about a drug supply line from across the border to Vietnam in large quantities. Based on that, detectives investigated and verified, and the authorities grasped the modus operandi and transportation methods that these subjects often used.
According to the documents collected by the detectives, the person directly running the line is Co Xong, about 30 years old. Co Xong is also willing to directly transport goods for partners if he is paid well. However, in drug trafficking activities, this subject is always cautious. Knowing that at the end of the year, the Vietnamese side will increase patrols and border protection activities, Co Xong is always cautious even though the partners really need the goods.
In early April 2024, Co Xong received a phone call from his trusted junior, Cha Menh Vu, informing him that a man was looking for help in finding a buyer for 6 large packages of pink heroin to sell to a partner in Vietnam. This person requested that if he brought the drugs to Vietnam, he would pay 2,000 USD per package.
Hearing that, Co Xong immediately agreed to discuss and exchange with Father Menh Vu about drug trafficking. After that, Co Xong called his relative and asked him to bring 6 packages of drugs to his house. Because he did not have any money, Co Xong asked to buy on credit and the seller agreed, agreeing on a price of 1,000 USD/1 package of pink drugs.
On the morning of April 4, 2024, posing as relatives from Laos coming to Vietnam to visit and invite them to celebrate the traditional Lao New Year, Co Xong and Cha Menh Vu rode a motorbike, carrying a backpack of drugs, towards the Vietnamese border to deliver the goods.
Immediately, information about the drug transaction of the subjects was captured by the scouts. From there, the investigation team was deployed at the location in Huoi Khe village, Muong Ai commune, Ky Son district. At about 9:00 a.m. the same day, a motorbike and 2 men with the appearance as reported by the scouts appeared.
Immediately, the undercover forces asked the two men to stop the car for inspection. Upon discovering the authorities, the two foreigners attempted to throw away the evidence and run across the border in an attempt to escape. However, the detectives were able to control and arrest the subjects and the evidence in time.
At the investigation agency, the two subjects confessed to being Co Xong (born in 1994), permanent resident of Nong Pong village, Kham Cot district, Bo Ly Kham Xay province (Laos) and Cha Menh Vu (born in 1978), resident of Phon Hong village, Kham Cot district, Bo Ly Kham Xay province (Laos). Searching the bags of the subjects, the authorities seized 36,000 pink tablets with a total weight of more than 3.5 kg.
Death sentence
With the above crimes, the two defendants Co Xong and Cha Menh Vu were just brought to trial by the People's Court of Nghe An province for the crime of Illegal drug trafficking. At the trial that day, no relatives of the two defendants were present in the courtroom. Both of them looked down many times, their eyes looking as if they were searching for their relatives, but there were only empty rows of benches.
Father Menh Vu has 5 children, and Co Xong is the father of two young children. The two defendants said that since their arrest, due to geographical distance, they have had few opportunities to see their relatives. Now, at the trial, the relatives of the two defendants did not attend, making them both sad. The two defendants expressed regret because their greed has led them to now face the highest sentence.
Responding to questions from the jury, defendant Co Xong stated that he bought drugs on credit to bring them to Vietnam to sell because of greed. He stated that he ordered a package of pink heroin for 1,000 USD, intending to bring it to Vietnam to sell to a partner for double the profit. However, before he could deliver the goods, he was arrested by the Nghe An Border Guard.
Meanwhile, defendant Cha Menh Vu gave a evasive statement. He claimed that he was tricked by his partner into ordering drugs. However, he admitted that he knew that drug trafficking was against the law, but because he thought he only had to travel a short distance and get a large amount of money, he risked committing the crime.
Both defendants presented their difficult circumstances, their young children, and their being foreigners, asking the panel of judges to consider giving them both a chance to live and return to their families soon. Especially when hearing the representative of the Procuracy request the death penalty, both defendants were moved to tears. Through an interpreter, both asked for leniency from Vietnamese law.
The panel of judges determined that the actions of the two defendants violated Vietnamese law. In this case, the two defendants trafficked a large amount of drugs, which is a dangerous act for society and should be severely punished. Considering the entire case, the court sentenced the defendants Cha Menh Vu and Co Xong to death for the crime of illegal drug trafficking.
Hearing the interpreter recount the verdict, the two defendants quickly raised their handcuffed hands to cover their faces. Regret was evident on the faces of the two foreign defendants, but it was too late.
