After a month-long postponement for further investigation, the Hanoi People's Court resumed the trial of 12 defendants in a drug trafficking case on 1/7.

During the closing arguments, the prosecution sought the death penalty for Ha Minh Duc, 40, a former officer of the Long Bien District Police's Drug Crime Investigation Team, and Nguyen Van Hung, 44, a former officer of Duc Giang Ward Police, also in Long Bien District.

The alleged ringleader, Nguyen Thi Kim Huong (known as Huong "Mau"), faces a life sentence. Nguyen The Thanh and his brother, Nguyen The Lap, also face the death penalty, along with eight of Thanh and Huong's associates.

Thus, with the exception of Huong, who may avoid the death penalty due to having a young child, the prosecution is seeking the death penalty for all 11 remaining defendants.

Representatives of the Hanoi People's Procuracy at the trial. Photo: Danh Lam

The prosecution alleges that in 2019, Thanh smuggled 136.8 kg of narcotics from Laos into Vietnam. Believing Huong's claim of "having very good relations with police officers," Thanh sold the drugs to her for domestic distribution.

Thanh's associates retrieved the drugs from Cau Treo border gate in Ha Tinh province and transported them to an apartment in Linh Nam street, Hanoi. The drugs were concealed inside a wooden cabinet and a large vacuum cleaner.

At Huong's request, Hung used a 500kg-capacity police vehicle belonging to Duc Giang Ward Police to transport the drugs from the apartment building to Huong's rented accommodation in Ngo Gia Tu alley.

The indictment states that a day after the successful delivery, Huong introduced Hung to her associates, saying, "This is an officer from Duc Giang Ward Police, the one who used a police vehicle to transport the drugs".

Concerned about the safety of the drugs at her rented accommodation, Huong asked Hung if she could store them in his garage, to which he agreed. From there, Huong and Duc distributed the drugs.

In 2019, one of Huong's associates was arrested and sent to compulsory rehabilitation. Hung, assigned to this case by his superiors, took the associate out for a meal with Huong before taking them to the rehabilitation center. Upon completion of the program, Hung brought the associate back to Huong to resume drug trafficking.

Former police officer Nguyen Van Hung (front row) and Huong "Mau" (yellow shirt) at the trial. Photo: Danh Lam

In court, Hung repeatedly claimed he transported items for Huong without knowing they contained drugs. "Huong asked me to transport a wardrobe and bed. I agreed. I didn't know there were drugs. I only found out when the investigators told me," Hung testified.

When questioned about using a police vehicle for a non-official matter, Hung explained he didn't know Huong previously. He said Duc, then a drug crime investigation officer, introduced Huong as "an informant for the team, asking for assistance."

Duc asked Hung to "overlook Huong's activities within the ward."

Later, around 4/2019, while on official duty in the police vehicle, Hung encountered Duc driving Huong "Mau" in a car and exchanged greetings. Shortly after, Huong called and asked him to transport some items, which he did using the police vehicle.

Hung denied knowing that the items stored at his house, as stated in the indictment, were drugs.

Huong confirmed the details in the indictment. When her associates delivered the goods, Hung instructed them to place the items inside his garage, saying, "Keep it tidy because there are children in the house. I'm afraid they'll see it," the indictment stated.

Later, Huong's associates occasionally visited the ward police station where Hung worked to retrieve the garage key and collect drugs for distribution. Finding this inconvenient, Huong instructed them to take the remaining drugs to her house.

Hung claimed he borrowed the house key to take a shower and retrieve some personal belongings. The judge pressed him, "If you didn't know it was drugs, why did you tell them to keep it tidy so the children wouldn't see it? Why did the other person come to your house to shower when he had his own house?"

The indictment accuses Hung of "aiding and abetting" Huong and her associates in trafficking 37 kg of narcotics, profiting 740 million VND.

Regarding former officer Ha Minh Duc,

the prosecution stated that Huong introduced Duc to her associates as "an officer from the Long Bien District Drug Squad," to build trust and facilitate drug trafficking.

Ha Minh Duc (front row) at the trial. Photo: Danh Lam

In 9/2019, when Huong informed Duc about an associate's arrest during a drug delivery, Duc reassured her, saying that based on his "professional experience," he knew the investigators would search related locations. He then advised Huong to "clear out all the drugs" hidden in her rented accommodation.

The prosecution determined that Duc not only collaborated with Huong in drug trafficking in Hanoi but also traveled to Hue several times to discuss purchasing narcotics with Thanh. Several successful shipments were facilitated by Duc.

Duc is accused of "aiding and abetting" Huong in trafficking 134.8 kg of drugs, profiting 1.3 billion VND.

During the trial on 22/5 and today, Duc admitted that his arrest was "not unjust." He understood that as a police officer, "protecting and associating with drug traffickers is wrong and immoral."

He claimed he didn't know the money Huong gave him was from drug sales, stating, "She gave it to me, so I took it."

Huong testified that the money she gave to the two officers involved was profit from drug sales.

The defendants at the trial. Photo: Danh Lam

Duc, who knew Huong "Mau" from high school, claimed he didn't intentionally protect her, but he "didn't know" about any of her four drug trafficking operations.

Regarding the meeting in Hue, Duc testified that Thanh and Huong proposed he help them traffic drugs and promised him payment. "At first, I disagreed, didn't say anything, and just ignored it." However, later, while driving around the city with them, Thanh reiterated the offer, to which Duc responded, "Do whatever you want, I don't care."

At today's trial, Duc maintained he did not "aid and abet" the drug trafficking.

The prosecution countered, "The logic is simple. You are a narcotics officer, and they told you about their illegal activities. What was their purpose? To enlist your assistance."

The judge expressed disappointment that two former police officers were involved, stating, "Behind you is not only your family, but also society, which has placed its trust in you."

The trial continues with the defense's arguments.

Thanh Lam