VietNamNet Bridge – The death penalty was submitted on Thursday by the People’s Procuracy of Hoa Binh Province against 11 defendants for “illegally trading and storing drugs” as part of a massive trans-national heroin trafficking operation.

Defendant Tran Duc Duy at the court hearing. – Photo: VNA/VNS

The case, which involved 23 people, saw 1,415 heroin bars being smuggled.

The 11 death sentences were proposed for Tran Duc Duy, Nguyen Trung Kien, Nguyen Van Hung and Nguyen Thanh Nam, as well as Luong Xuan Vung, Chu Van Hau, Pham Van Manh and Vi Van Tuan, along with Be Van Thang, Ly Tien Dong and Trieu Van Duy

Tran Duc Duy was also charged for allegedly “storing weapons for military use”.

Life imprisonment was proposed for eight other defendants -- Nguyen Thanh Yen, Dang Minh Chau, To Van Quoc and Luc Van Thuong, as well as Ngo Quoc Manh, Nong Van Phuong, Dao Xuan Thuy, Vi Van Nghi.

Twenty years in prison was proposed for three others -- Dam Van Quang, Nguyen Manh Hung and Pham Van Quynh, while a 24 to 38 month-imprisonment proposal was submitted for Vu Thi Thu Thao for “not denouncing criminals.”

According to the indictment, in January 2015, Ministry of Public Security’s Criminal Investigation Police Department caught red-handed Tran Duc Duy, 31, residing in Luong Son District of Hoa Binh Province transporting 94 heroin bars, a pistol and seven bullets in Doc Ma area in Hoa Binh Province.

Further investigation found 22 other smugglers involving in the trans-national ring, appropriating VND13 billion (US$578,000) and over CNY700,000 ($101,000)

The court hearing will last 20 days, beginning from February 27. The lawyers’ debate starts from Friday.

Source: VNS