Vietnam court sentences two to death in drug trafficking case

The court handed the death penalty to 29-year-old Dong Van Hau, a resident of Phu Rieng District for illegally transporting narcotics.

He was also sentenced to an additional 16 years in prison for drug possession and organizing drug use.

Rather than serve the 16 years behind bars, he will be put to death.

Nguyen Huu Binh, 32, from Dong Phu District, also received the death sentence for transporting drugs and an additional eight years for organizing illegal drug use.

He will also be put to death rather than serve time.

Three other defendants received prison terms for their relationship with the same drug network.

Nguyen Thi Lan, 28, was sentenced to 15 years for possession and organizing drug use.

Bui Thi Ngoc Trung, 32, was given six years for organizing drug use, while Le Thanh Sang, 35, received 13 years for drug trafficking.

According to the indictment, Hau and Binh worked with a man identified by the Telegram account name 'Lucifer Nguyen' to transport drugs using express delivery and cargo services.

Between May and June 2024, Hau picked up ecstasy, ketamine, and liquid narcotics from Lucifer Nguyen and stored them at his residence.

He was instructed on how to package the drugs and send them through a courier company in nearby Binh Duong Province.

Hau was reportedly paid VND5–10 million (US$192–384) via bank transfer per delivery.

Binh had also recently completed drug rehabilitation, which did not stop him from accepting Hau’s offer to pay him in the form of narcotics for personal use.

On June 20, 2024, Binh was apprehended while attempting to send drugs from Binh Duong.

A subsequent police search of Hau’s home led to the seizure of more than 7.6 kilograms of various narcotics.

Investigators also found that Hau had stored over 12 grams of drugs and supplied narcotics to Lan, Trung, and Binh, who were all found to have used drugs together.

Lan and Trung were also found to have organized drug use in coordination with Hau and Binh.

Although Sang denied the charges, the court said testimonies from other defendants, statements from drug buyers, scene inspections, witness identification, and bank transaction records provided sufficient evidence to convict him of multiple counts of drug trafficking.

Hau, Binh, and Sang all had prior convictions for theft.