VietNamNet Bridge – Two drug traffickers were sentenced to 20 years imprisonment each for transporting 4,000 tablets of ecstasy from the northern mountainous province of Son La to Hanoi, Vietnam News Agency reported.

Items seized in a drug trafficking case. Photo for illustration only. — VNA/VNS Photo

On Thursday, Hoa Binh Province People’s Court opened the first trial against Tran Van Luan, born in 1991 in Kim Dong District, Hung Yen Province, and Do The Duy, born in 1988 in Mai Son District, Son La Province.

The accused pleaded guilty at the court on being questioned.

The taxi driver who was aiding them was only given a fine, since he was not directly involved in the act of trafficking. According to the indictment, on July 31, 2017, Luan met Duy in Dong Anh District, Hanoi, and offered him VND5 million (US$230) to buy drugs. Duy agreed.

On August 1, Duy went to Lao Kho Village, Phieng Khoai Commune in Yen Chau District of Son La Province, to buy ecstasy from a Mong ethnic man whose identity could not be ascertained.

He then called another Mong man of Laos nationality and asked Duy to trade a bag of drugs at VND3 million ($130). On August 2, Duy received 20 bags of ecstasy near the Vietnam-Laos border and waited for Luan to pick him up in Yen Chau District. Luan paid him a total of VND60 million ($2,640) for the drugs. At 6pm the same day, Luan and Duy met in Van Ho District, Son La Province, and took a taxi to Hanoi. When they arrived at Phong Phu Commune, Tan Lac District in Hoa Binh Province at 1.30pm on August 3, they were stopped by the district police. Luan asked the driver to keep going and threw away the bags of drugs.

But despite their efforts to escape, police caught them with 4,000 tablets of ecstasy weighing 395.89g and other items. 

Source: VNS