Death sentence for a Filipino defendant for drug trafficking

On August 18, the Hanoi People's Court opened a trial and sentenced to death the defendant Emmanuel Sillo Camacho (born in 1975, Philippine nationality) for the crime of "Illegal transportation of narcotics" as prescribed in Article 194, Clause 4, Point b, Penal Code.

Defendant Camacho at the trial. (Source: congly.com.vn)

According to the indictment, at about 12:15 on December 7, 2013, the Drug Crime Investigation Police Department - Hanoi City Police in coordination with the Customs Department of Noi Bai International Airport (Hanoi) through luggage inspection caught Emmanuel Sillo Camacho red-handed illegally transporting drugs. During on-site investigation, the authorities discovered in Camacho's luggage 6 white plastic bags, each bag contained 3 socks, each sock contained a black plastic bag containing white powder. The total number of confiscated items from the subject was 18 bags containing white powder, identified as cocaine with a total weight of 3,408.18 grams.

At the investigation agency, Camacho confessed that about 4 months before his arrest, he went on Facebook and met a woman named Jessica (currently living in Brazil). This woman promised to find a job for Camacho. On November 25, 2013, Camacho went to Brazil to meet Jessica. When they met, Jessica asked Camacho to transport drugs to Vietnam and promised to find him a job in Brazil or other countries with a salary of 1,000 USD to 1,500 USD/month, and Camacho agreed.

After that, a woman came to Camacho's place, claiming to be Jessica's friend, and gave Camacho 6 plastic bags, including 18 socks containing cocaine, and put them in Camacho's suitcase, telling him to bring them back to Vietnam and someone would contact him to receive the drugs. On December 7, 2013, Camacho brought the above goods to Singapore and continued to fly from Singapore to Vietnam, where he was arrested.

Because the specific address of the woman named Jessica and the woman who brought drugs to Camacho abroad could not be determined, the investigation agency separated the documents and coordinated with the Vietnam Interpol Office to continue the investigation and handling later.

After reviewing the entire content of the case and the evidence and testimony of the defendant in court, the Trial Panel affirmed that the prosecution of defendant Camacho for the crime of "Illegal transportation of narcotics" was the right person, the right crime, and the right law. The Trial Panel concluded: Because of greed for immediate profits and the desire for a high-income job, the defendant disregarded Vietnamese law. Considering the large amount of drugs that the defendant transported, it is necessary to apply the most severe sentence to the defendant, which is the death penalty, for general warning, deterrence and prevention./.

According to VNA