Police officer stabbed to death by drug suspect

Lieutenant Tran Trung Hieu, 31, a police officer at Xuan Hong Commune’s Police Department in Nghi Xuan District of Ha Tinh Province, died on Friday.

Lieutenant Tran Trung Hieu of Ha Tinh Province's Police. Photo by Ha Tinh Police

Hieu took part in a raid on Nov. 13 to catch Tran Trong Gia Bao, 26, as police believed him to be trading cannabis in the district.

When police approached him, Bao ran away to a nearby store and returned with a pair of scissors which he used to stab Hieu several times in his neck and body.

Hieu suffer severe injuries and succumbed to them on Friday morning, said Colonel Nguyen Hong Phong, Director of Ha Tinh’s Police Department.

Bao, a local in Xuan Hong Commune, was taken down right after attacking Hieu.

He is facing charge of "murder."

He told police he had "bad nerves" and acted without thinking, and "deeply regret" about what happened.

Police interrogate Tran Trong Gia Bao at a station in Ha Tinh Province, Nov. 13, 2023. Photo by Ha Tinh Police

Lieutenant Hieu has two children. His wife works as a nurse at the medical center of Nghi Xuan District.

"He is a gentle and sociable man and has always been adored by his teammates and local people," said Captain Le Hoang Ha, head of Xuan Hong Commune’s Police Department.

Marijuana is illegal in Vietnam, and those convicted of smuggling or trading marijuana can face long jail terms or even death penalty. Users are subject to cash fines.