Continued updates
On 3/9/2023, after two weeks of trial and deliberations, the Ho Chi Minh City People's Court announced its verdict for 227 defendants in the VN10 case. Ha Danh Nam, 52, from Nghe An, along with seven other defendants, received the death sentence for illegal drug trafficking, coupled with additional fines of 50-100 million dong.
Hoang Sy Thang and his nephew, Bui Van Anh, both from Nghe An, were sentenced to life imprisonment for illegal drug transportation.
At least 10 other individuals received sentences for illegal drug trafficking or transportation.
The Trial Panel is currently announcing sentences for other defendants.
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The trial panel at the VN10 case hearing. *Photo: Pham Hai
According to the Trial Panel, the Procuracy's indictment against the defendants for their crimes and penalties was well-founded, correctly identifying the individuals and their offenses.
In this case, some defendants played a mastermind or ringleader role, while others were accomplices. Therefore, criminal responsibility was differentiated based on each individual's position and role within each branch of the operation. The court applied the principle of strict punishment for ringleaders and key figures, while showing leniency towards accomplices.
During sentencing, the Trial Panel considered mitigating circumstances for each defendant. With the exception of Ha Danh Nam, three defendants currently at large, and Vu Hai Anh, who did not admit guilt, the remaining defendants made honest declarations and showed remorse.
Ha Danh Nam played a central role in the drug ring, connected to multiple branches of the case.
Based on the case file and the public trial, it was established that in early January 2023, Nam hired Hoang Sy Thang, 39, also from Nghe An, to receive packages from abroad. Drugs were concealed in toothpaste tubes alongside consumer goods. Thang then enlisted his nephew, Bui Van Anh, to help receive and deliver the goods. By early March 2023, Nam had successfully sent seven shipments to Thang using this method.
In addition to the hand-carried route, Nam was also accused of bringing drugs into Vietnam via international express delivery. These packages were sent from France to Hanoi, then forwarded to recipients in various localities.
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Defendants in temporary detention hear the verdict at Chi Hoa temporary detention center. *Photo: Hai Duyen
Thang was identified as directly receiving the drug-laden packages, dividing them, and then instructing Anh to deliver them to distribution contacts.
The branch led by Nguyen Huy Hoang was one of the primary channels for distributing and consuming large quantities of drugs supplied by Nam.
The court also deemed this a particularly serious case, noting that the defendants disguised drugs within essential goods, exploited consignment and delivery services, and used highly secure messaging applications and unregistered bank accounts to hide their activities.
The drug ring was uncovered on the morning of 16/3/2023, when customs officials at Tan Son Nhat airport detected unusual signs during luggage screening of four flight attendants. Upon direct inspection, authorities found over 8 kg of ecstasy, over 3 kg of ketamine, and cocaine in their suitcases.
Following this incident, the Ho Chi Minh City Police collaborated with multiple forces to establish the VN10 case, tracking down defendants involved in the ring. It was determined that there were no grounds to prosecute the four flight attendants.
Investigative agencies determined that the drug ring was organized into multiple layers to conceal its ringleader, with transaction flows totaling nearly 29,000 billion dong. Over 2,700 suspects have been prosecuted in 477 cases; this specific case involves 227 defendants.
During the expansion of the investigation, the PC04 Ho Chi Minh City Police also arrested many individuals who supplied drugs to groups linked to singer Chi Dan and model An Tay for their personal use.
Hai Duyen
