On May 7, Hoai DJ received a death sentence from the Ho Chi Minh City People's Court for the crimes of illegally buying, storing, and organizing the use of narcotics.

In connection with the case, Thach Hoang Minh was sentenced to life imprisonment for illegally buying narcotics and organizing the use of narcotics. Six other defendants also received life sentences for illegally buying narcotics.

Nguyen Xuan Trang, 21, who committed the crime as a minor, was sentenced to 8 years in prison for illegally buying narcotics.

Defendant Nguyen Thi Hoai and accomplices at court. Photo: Hai Duyen

According to the trial panel, Hoai played the role of mastermind and leader in this case, committing crimes involving an exceptionally large quantity of narcotics. Therefore, she bears the primary and highest responsibility. The remaining defendants acted as accomplices. As Nguyen Xuan Trang was a minor at the time of the offense, the court considered a lighter sentence as stipulated by law.

During the trial today, Hoai DJ and her accomplices admitted their criminal acts as stated in the indictment. Hoai expressed remorse and offered to return her illicit profits. She also requested the trial panel to consider her assets unrelated to the case.

The verdict stated that in 2020, Hoai went to Cambodia to work as a DJ in bars and nightclubs, where she met a Vietnamese man named Zin. In 2022, after learning that Zin specialized in producing "nuoc vui" (a type of synthetic drug), Hoai assisted him with bookkeeping and transporting narcotics from a warehouse to various regions in Cambodia after she stopped working as a DJ.

In early 2023, Hoai returned to Vietnam for thyroid treatment. She then hired several people to package "nuoc vui" according to Zin's formula, receiving 2 USD for each finished package.

She subsequently rented houses on Nguyen Van Cu and Le Thi Rieng streets in District 1, TP HCM, to serve as a warehouse and packaging facility. The finished "nuoc vui" was delivered to a person named An. Zin supplied the raw materials for drug preparation and arranged for their delivery.

Packages of finished "nuoc vui" produced by Hoai DJ's group. Photo: Police provided

By the time of her arrest in June 2023, Hoai and her accomplices had illegally bought and sold over 108 kg of various narcotics. The female DJ was held criminally responsible for over 106 kg of this amount. Additionally, Hoai organized drug use for many accomplices at her rented house and illegally stored narcotics.

In June 2025, the Family and Juvenile Court of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Court opened a trial for the defendants. After two days, the trial panel returned the dossier for additional investigation, citing signs of "missing persons, missing crimes."

However, after several months of additional investigation, the investigation agency and the prosecutor's office maintained their original indictment against the defendants.

"Nuoc vui" is a type of narcotic originating from China, which first entered Vietnam in 2016. Its main components are amphetamine and methamphetamine, belonging to the group of illegally produced synthetic drugs, with stimulant effects on the nervous system. At the time, it was sold in bars and nightclubs for 1,2-1,5 million VND per bottle or package.

When used, users mix it into about 2 liters of carbonated soft drink to create a beverage, producing feelings of prolonged euphoria and joy. However, excessive use can lead to central nervous system motor and respiratory depression, psychosis, dystonia, confusion, seizures, and coma.

Hai Duyen