On 23/3/2026, Nguyen Minh Truong, former Chief of Ward 13 Police in old District 4, and Truong Anh Tuan, his deputy, were sentenced by the Ho Chi Minh City People's Court to three years in prison for Abuse of Power while on Duty. Five other former ward police officers received five-year prison sentences for the same crime. Pham Quang Trung was separately sentenced to seven years for Receiving Bribes.
Thach Phuong Thu received a 24-year prison sentence, while Phan Van Muoi was sentenced to 18 years for two crimes: Illegally Trading Narcotics and Giving Bribes.
Additionally, 20 other defendants received sentences ranging from two to 23 years for crimes including: trading narcotics, illegally possessing narcotics, organizing illegal drug use, and giving bribes.
According to the Trial Panel, the actions of the former police officers disregarded the law, undermining state operations, damaging the People's Public Security force's reputation, and impacting social order, necessitating severe penalties. However, the court noted that the defendants made sincere declarations and returned a portion of their ill-gotten gains.
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The defendants in court today. Photo: Binh Nguyen
receiving monthly payments to "protect" drug criminals operating openly
The verdict established that in early 2023, Thach Phuong Thu organized a drug trafficking ring operating in an alley on Nguyen Tat Thanh Street (Ward 13, District 4, now Xom Chieu Ward). She assigned multiple individuals to work shifts, selling drugs from 3 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily.
Despite being aware of these activities, Nguyen Minh Truong and Pham Quang Trung repeatedly summoned Thu to the police station to warn and deter her, demanding that she cease her operations. Subsequently, Thu proposed monthly payments in exchange for being overlooked, and both officers agreed.
From January 2023 until her arrest on 2/1/2024, Thu consistently paid 20 million VND each month to Phan Van Muoi, who then transferred it to Trung. This occurred 12 times, totaling 220 million VND. Trung profited 60 million VND, with the remaining amount distributed among his superiors and several ward police officers.
During the same period, Thu directly, or through Muoi, paid Truong 10 million VND monthly, totaling 12 times, which amounted to 120 million VND.
On 2/9/2023, Truong called Thu to prepare food for officers on duty during a holiday. Later, Trung requested an additional five roasted ducks and 10 million VND, which Thu and Muoi delivered near the ward police station.
Beyond these fixed payments, starting in September 2023, when neighborhood security forces established checkpoints in the area, Thu made 30 payments of 200,000 VND to ward police officers to avoid prosecution.
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Defendant Thach Phuong Thu (seated in the front row) with other defendants in court. Photo: Binh Nguyen
accepting money to overlook drug sales in a karaoke bar
In the same case, authorities determined that in 2015, Tong Vy Phuong, who lived in the same alley where Thu's group operated, had her daughter register a karaoke business in her name. To increase profits, Phuong provided drug paraphernalia to customers.
To avoid inspections, from September to December 2023, Phuong and Chau Dang Khoa made four payments totaling 16 million VND to ward police officer Nguyen Tan Loc. Additionally, at Loc's request, they also made monthly payments to Nguyen Minh Truong (totaling 12 million VND) and two other ward police officers (20 million VND).
In early January 2024, the District 1 Police Drug Crime Investigation Team, in coordination with the Nguyen Thai Binh Ward Police (now Saigon Ward Police), inspected Ho Huu Tho, one of Thu's subordinates. They discovered two heroin tubes in his pants pocket. Expanding the investigation, the following day, investigators searched Thu's residence, seizing two more small drug packets. Nearly 20 related individuals were subsequently arrested.
During the trial, the defendants admitted to all criminal acts.
Binh Nguyen
