Three receive death for drug smuggling

Ly A Po, 22, Vu A Thang, 21, and Giang A Minh, 23, received death for smuggling drugs from Nghe An to Hanoi, Nghe An People's Court ruled.

Mua A Vu, 34, received a life sentence on the same charge.

Po, Thang and Minh smuggled drugs from Nghe An to Hanoi for VND800 million ($34,993). Vu was also hired to bring the drugs from Nghe An for VND50 million.

On Dec. 7, 2020, the four met in Nghe An's Ky Son District. The next day, a man named Pao sent the address to receive the drugs to the four through a mobile phone app. Thang then drove all four by car to Nam Can Commune to receive the drugs.

As Thang was driving to Hanoi, police intercepted the car in Tuong Duong District. A total 3.5 kilograms of drugs were seized as a result.

In court, the four said they decided to smuggle drugs due to poverty.

Vietnam is a key trafficking hub for narcotics despite having some of the world’s toughest drug laws.

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

The production or sale of 100 grams of heroin or 300 grams of other illegal narcotics is also punishable by death.