Dong Nai karaoke owner arrested for letting customers take drugs

Ha Le Hong Phuc, 40, who owns Luxury Hong Phuc karaoke in Trang Bom District, is being investigated for "accommodating the illegal use of narcotics."

The arrest came after police raided the parlor early last Sunday and found tens of men and women using drugs.

Rapid testing of 35 people found 17 positive for drugs, including two managers and six staff.

One of the managers, Nguyen Dang Tien Loc, 20, was found to have two drug packages with him.

Police said Phuc uses Loc, Le Van Hai, 20, and Pham Thi My, 25, as managers at the parlor and to aid customers in using drugs.

They told police they had bought the drugs from a local man named Tran Thanh Danh, 20.

Loc, Hai, My and Danh have also been arrested. They will be investigated for "illegal drug trafficking" and "accommodating the illegal use of narcotics."

It is not rare for police to find people using drugs at dance clubs and karaokes but in most cases, they do not find a direct connection between the owners and managers and drug suppliers.

If found guilty of "accommodating the illegal use of narcotics," one could be jailed for two to seven years.

Those convicted of smuggling more than 600 grams of heroin or more than 2.5 kilograms of methamphetamine face the death penalty.