9 sentenced to death in drug ring led by 'female monster' in her 60s
(Baonghean.vn) - Tran Thi Mau set up a "huge" drug ring from Laos to Nghe An and then hired people to receive, transport, and distribute the "goods" to trade and sell for profit. However, this ring was dismantled by the authorities.
On January 22, after a lengthy deliberation, the People's Court of Nghe An province sentenced the ringleader Tran Thi Mau (born 1968, residing in Do Luong town) and her accomplices in the case of illegal drug trafficking and transportation.
Accomplices of defendant Tran Thi Mau include Nguyen Sy Duc (born 1965), Nguyen Dinh Tuan (born 1973), Dau Thi Tuyet (born 1976), Phan Thi Loan (born 1979), Le Thi Hong (born 1982), all residing in Do Luong district; Nguyen Xuan Dung (born 1971, residing in Quang Ninh province), Nguyen Dang Dung (born 1985, residing in Bac Giang province); Phan Thi Thu Hien (born 1973), Cu Hoang Hung (born 1976), all residing in Hanoi city and Le Ngoc Tuyen (born 1987, residing in Hai Phong city).
According to the indictment, at 1:00 a.m. on November 18, 2021, on National Highway 7 in Anh Son town, Anh Son district, the working group of the Drug Crime Investigation Police Department of the Ministry of Public Security coordinated with the authorities to discover and catch Nguyen Sy Duc red-handed driving a motorbike with Phan Thi Loan and Nguyen Dinh Tuan - both driving motorbikes transporting drugs. Upon inspection, the working group discovered that Loan's motorbike was carrying a sack containing 14 heroin bars, 15 plastic bags containing crystal meth, and 1 bag containing synthetic drugs. Tuan's motorbike was carrying a black bag containing 40 plastic bags containing crystal meth, 4 heroin bars, and 2 bags of synthetic drugs.
Nguyen Sy Duc confessed that he hired Tuan and Loan to transport all the drugs. During a search of Duc’s residence, the police also discovered and seized a quantity of crystal meth. Expanding the investigation, the police arrested Tran Thi Mau and the remaining suspects.
Previously, in early 2021, Tran Thi Mau had met a Laotian (unknown background) and then set up a transnational drug ring. When a customer ordered drugs, Mau contacted the Laotian and agreed on a price. Then, Mau hired someone to pick up the goods from the Laotian and transport them deep into the interior before delivering them to the customer.
At the trial, the first instance panel of judges clarified that within nearly a year, Mau had directed his "juniors" to carry out 4 illegal drug trafficking cases, with a total weight of more than 105kg, including nearly 93kg of crystal meth, 8.3kg of heroin and more than 3.8kg of synthetic drugs.
The defendants admitted to the crimes as charged in the indictment, expressed their remorse, and hoped to receive leniency from the law so they could have a chance to live and return soon.
The panel sentenced the defendants: Tran Thi Mau, Nguyen Sy Duc, Nguyen Dinh Tuan, Dau Thi Tuyet, Le Thi Hong, Nguyen Dang Dung, Nguyen Xuan Dung and Cu Hoang Hung to death for the crime of “Illegal drug trafficking”. Defendant Phan Thi Loan was sentenced to death for the crime of “Illegal drug transportation”.
Defendant Phan Thi Thu Hien was sentenced to life in prison for “Illegal drug trafficking”. Le Ngoc Tuyen was sentenced to a total of life in prison for the two crimes of “Illegal drug trafficking” and “Illegal drug possession”.
