How many years in prison for illegally transporting 10kg of crystal meth?

Reply: In Article 250, Penal Code 2015Amended by Clause 67, Article 1, Law amending the Penal Code 2017, which stipulates the crime of illegal transportation of narcotics as follows:

Crime of illegal transportation of drugs:

1. Anyone who illegally transports narcotics without the purpose of illegally manufacturing, trading, or storing narcotics in one of the following cases shall be sentenced to imprisonment from 02 to 07 years:

a) Having been administratively sanctioned for the acts specified in this article or having been convicted of this crime or one of the crimes specified in articles 248, 249, 251 and 252 of this Code, not having had the criminal record cleared, and still committing the violation;

b) Opium resin, cannabis resin or coca extract weighing from 01 gram to less than 500 grams;

c) Heroin, Cocaine, Methamphetamine, Amphetamine, MDMA or XLR-11 weighing from 0.1 gram to less than 0.5 grams;

d) Coca leaves; khat leaves (Catha edulis leaves); leaves, roots, stems, branches, flowers, fruits of cannabis plants or other plant parts containing narcotic substances as prescribed by the Government with a weight from 01 kilogram to less than 10 kilograms;

d) Dried opium fruit weighing from 05 kilograms to less than 50 kilograms;

e) Fresh opium fruit weighing from 01 kilogram to less than 10 kilograms;

g) Other solid narcotics with a mass from 01 gram to less than 20 grams;

h) Other liquid narcotics with a volume from 10 milliliters to less than 100 milliliters;

i) Possessing two or more narcotic substances whose total mass or volume is equivalent to the mass or volume of the narcotic substance specified in one of the points from point b to point h of this clause.

2. Committing a crime in one of the following cases shall be punishable by imprisonment from 07 years to 15 years:

a) Organized;

b) Committing the crime two or more times;

c) Abusing position and power;

d) Taking advantage of the name of an agency or organization;

d) Using people under 16 years old to commit crimes;

e) Crossing the border;

g) Opium resin, cannabis resin or coca extract weighing from 500 grams to less than 01 kilogram;

h) Heroin, Cocaine, Methamphetamine, Amphetamine, MDMA or XLR-11 weighing from 05 grams to less than 30 grams;

i) Coca leaves; khat leaves (Catha edulis leaves); leaves, roots, stems, branches, flowers, fruits of cannabis plants or other plant parts containing narcotic substances as prescribed by the Government with a weight from 10 kilograms to less than 25 kilograms;

k) Dried opium fruit weighing from 50 kilograms to less than 200 kilograms;

l) Fresh opium fruit weighing from 10 kilograms to less than 50 kilograms;

m) Other solid narcotics with a mass from 20 grams to less than 100 grams;

n) Other drugs in liquid form with a volume from 100 milliliters to less than 250 milliliters;

o) Possessing two or more narcotic substances, the total mass or volume of which is equivalent to the mass or volume of the narcotic substance specified in one of the points from point g to point n of this clause;

p) Dangerous recidivism.

3. Committing a crime in one of the following cases shall be punishable by imprisonment from 15 to 20 years:

a) Opium resin, cannabis resin or coca extract weighing from 01 kilogram to less than 05 kilograms;

b) Heroin, Cocaine, Methamphetamine, Amphetamine, MDMA or XLR-11 weighing from 30 grams to less than 100 grams;

c) Coca leaves; khat leaves (Catha edulis leaves); leaves, roots, stems, branches, flowers, fruits of cannabis plants or other plant parts containing narcotic substances as prescribed by the Government with a weight from 25 kilograms to less than 75 kilograms;

d) Dried opium fruit weighing from 200 kilograms to less than 600 kilograms;

d) Fresh opium fruit weighing from 50 kilograms to less than 150 kilograms;

e) Other solid narcotics with a mass from 100 grams to less than 300 grams;

g) Other liquid narcotics with a volume from 250 milliliters to less than 750 milliliters;

h) Possessing two or more narcotic substances whose total mass or volume is equivalent to the mass or volume of the narcotic substance specified in one of the points from point a to point g of this clause.

4. Committing a crime in one of the following cases shall be punishable by 20 years' imprisonment, life imprisonment or death:

a) Opium resin, cannabis resin or coca extract weighing 5 kilograms or more;

b) Heroine, Cocaine, Methamphetamine, Amphetamine, MDMA or XLR-11 weighing 100 grams or more;

c) Coca leaves; khat leaves (Catha edulis leaves); leaves, roots, stems, branches, flowers, fruits of cannabis plants or other plant parts containing narcotic substances as prescribed by the Government with a weight of 75 kilograms or more;

d) Dried opium fruit weighing 600 kilograms or more;

d) Fresh opium fruit weighing 150 kilograms or more;

e) Other solid narcotics weighing 300 grams or more;

g) Other drugs in liquid form with a volume of 750 milliliters or more;

h) Possessing two or more narcotic substances whose total mass or volume is equivalent to the mass or volume of the narcotic substance specified in one of the points from point a to point g of this clause.

5. The offender may also be fined from VND 5,000,000 to VND 500,000,000, banned from holding positions, practicing a profession or doing certain jobs from 01 to 05 years or have part or all of his/her property confiscated.

Thus, anyone who illegally transports narcotics without the purpose of manufacturing, trading, or illegally storing narcotics or other solid narcotics weighing 300 grams or more shall be sentenced to 20 years in prison, life imprisonment, or death.

Therefore, a person who illegally transports 10kg of crystal meth can face the highest penalty of death. In addition, a person who illegally transports 10kg of crystal meth will be fined from 5,000,000 VND to 500,000,000 VND.