Trial of 'transnational tycoon' who trafficked thousands of synthetic drug pills

On June 14, 2019, in Don Phuc commune, Con Cuong district (Nghe An), Nghe An Provincial People's Court held a mobile trial of two defendants Tran Thanh Dan (born in 1963), residing in Yen Thanh block, Nam Dan town, Nam Dan and Nguyen Van Trang (born in 1979), residing in Truong Son commune, Duc Tho district, Ha Tinh for the crime of "Illegal drug trafficking".

Defendants Tran Thanh Dan and Nguyen Van Trang listen to the court's verdict. Photo: An Quynh.

Previously sentenced to 20 years in prison for drug-related crimes, after being released from prison, Tran Thanh Dan continued to "go back to his old ways", becoming an experienced "boss" in drug trafficking. More sophisticatedly, Dan became friends with Trang and set up a network to illegally buy and sell drugs from Laos to Vietnam and then to China for consumption.

This transportation and consumption line consists of high-ranking individuals with criminal records who are acquaintances with Dan, so the operation is closed and sophisticated. Drugs taken from Laos are brought to Nam Dan to hide, then transported to Vinh City, Quang Ninh and some northern provinces, and then "exported" to China for consumption.

The indictment stated: On December 13, 2018, Trang traveled from Ha Tinh to Nam Dan town to meet and ask Dan to give her a package of crystal meth to sell for profit. Dan agreed and took it for 1.5 million VND.

At around 6pm on December 20, 2018, Dan called Trang and asked: "Do you still have any left? Leave some for your younger brother?", and Trang agreed. A moment later, Trang received a phone call claiming to be Dan's younger brother and asking if Trang was selling.

Through discussion, Trang agreed to sell that person 01 package of crystal meth for 2.5 million VND, and arranged to deliver the goods at the Cua Nam Overpass area. While preparing to deliver the goods, Trang was caught red-handed and had 5,080 grams of drugs confiscated.

Previously, Dan confessed that he had contacted a man named Hung (living in Vinh City) to buy a heroin cake. The man named Hung asked to sell it for 150 million VND, and would inform him when the goods were delivered. Dan immediately agreed.

On December 20, 2018, Hung called Dan to inform him that the delivery location was at the foot of a rosewood tree near the volleyball court in Kim Lien commune, Nam Dan district, and said, “There are 3 cakes and 70 packages of opium inside. You can take them and sell them, and I will pay you later. A package of opium costs 3 million VND.” After taking a small amount of the goods to sell, Dan put the rest in a backpack in the corner of the house.

The number of exhibits seized at Dan's house. Photo: Hong Quang

On December 21, 2018, while on his way to deliver goods to a retail customer in Vinh City, Dan was checked by the authorities and a package of drugs containing 1.2 grams of heroin was seized from his wallet. During a search of his home, the authorities seized 3 rectangular boxes containing white powder containing 1.056 grams of heroin; 70 packages of round tablets weighing 1,366.4 grams.

At the trial, the two defendants confessed to all their actions. They wanted to get rich quickly, so they ignored the law. Based on the aggravating and mitigating circumstances, the panel decided to sentence Tran Thanh Dan to life in prison and Nguyen Van Trang to 7 years in prison for the crime of "illegal drug trafficking".

Nghe An: Arrested 2 subjects, seized 3 heroin cakes and 14,000 synthetic drug pills

(Baonghean.vn) - On the afternoon of December 21, on Phan Chu Trinh Street in Doi Cung Ward, the Anti-Drug Police Team of Vinh City Police successfully broke up Project 128M and arrested a case of illegal drug trafficking.