Bringing more than 33 kg of drugs to Chi Linh, 2 foreigners were sentenced to death

Sophisticated tricks

According to the indictment of the Supreme People's Procuracy, at about 8:00 p.m. on September 6, 2024, the Working Group of the Drug Crime Investigation Police Department (Ministry of Public Security) coordinated with functional forces on duty at the gate of Ben Tam Kindergarten, Ben Tam Ward (Chi Linh City) and discovered a Toyota Prado car with Lao license plate number 6565 showing suspicious signs.

The car was driven by Kou Vang (also known as Vang Ku, born in 1998), with Chue Xonglavang (Vang Chu, born in 2000) also in the car, both residing in Thong Xen village, Phon Xa At village cluster, Kham Cot district, Borikhamxay province, Laos. The task force requested to stop the car and take it to Ben Tam ward police station for clarification.

The results of the car inspection and appraisal found that the black fuel tank under the car contained 14,086.74 grams of heroin, 2,891.03 grams of ketamine and 16,674.93 grams of methamphetamine.

The two subjects declared that these items belonged to Vang Xay, about 30 years old, residing in Co Hay village, Kham Cot district, Borikhamxay province, Laos, who hired him to transport this car from the capital Vientiane, Laos to Vietnam to deliver to Vang Xay's friend in Chi Linh city.

The investigation and verification process clarified that around February 2021, Vang Chu and Vang Ku knew Vang Xay. On September 2, 2024, Vang Xay called Vang Ku to hire a driver in a Toyota Prado with license plate 6565 to transport Vang Chu from the capital Vientiane, Laos to Vietnam to deliver the car to Vang Xay's friend in Chi Linh City.

When entering Vietnam through the Nam Can border gate (Nghe An), after handing over the car, the two subjects had to wait for a while, Vang Xay's friend would hand over the car to return to Laos to deliver to Vang Xay. Vang Xay promised to pay Vang Chu 50 thousand Baht (Thai currency), equivalent to more than 35.4 million VND and pay Vang Ku 100 thousand Baht, equivalent to more than 70.8 million VND.

Following Vang Xay's instructions, on the way to Chi Linh City according to the location Vang Xay had sent in advance, Vang Chu continuously used his cell phone to inform Vang Xay of the car's location.

On the afternoon of September 6, 2024, Vang Xay sent a photo of the mobile phone number 0562082756 and a photo of a 100,000 VND bill to Vang Chu's mobile phone. Vang Xay said that when he met someone who gave him a 100,000 VND bill with the serial number on the bill and the mobile phone number matching, he would hand over the car to that person. When the two subjects arrived at the gate of Ben Tam Kindergarten, they were caught red-handed with the evidence.

Not guilty

During the investigation and trial in court, both Vang Chu and Vang Ku stated that they did not know clearly that Vang Xay was hiding drugs in the car.

At court, the representative of the People's Procuracy of Hai Duong province argued that although Vang Chu and Vang Ku did not admit to knowing clearly that Vang Xay hid drugs in the Toyota Prado 6565, the statements of the two subjects were consistent with the content and developments of the process of driving the car from the capital Vientiane, Laos to Chi Linh city to deliver the car and drugs to the recipient.

On the way, the two subjects continuously informed Vang Xay in Laos of their location and told him that when they met the recipient, both sides would confirm that the serial number of the 100,000 VND bill and the mobile phone number matched before delivering the car.

Some images of drugs stored on Vang Chu's mobile phone are similar to the drugs seized, along with documents and evidence collected in the case file. Therefore, there is enough basis to determine that the two subjects transported the above drugs for others to receive remuneration according to the agreement.

The defendants' actions are dangerous to society and directly violate the state's monopoly and unity in the management of addictive and psychotropic substances (collectively referred to as narcotics). The defendants are persons with full criminal capacity and are aware that their actions are violations of the law, but they intentionally committed crimes with direct intent.

In their final statements before sentencing, the two defendants still did not admit to illegally transporting drugs, only asking for a reduced sentence.

Due to lack of remorse and regret, given the serious nature of the case and the exceptionally large amount of drugs that the two subjects transported, the Trial Council sentenced Kou Vang (also known as Vang Ku) and Chue Xonglavang (Vang Chu) to death for the crime of illegally transporting drugs.

At the moment of sentencing, the two suspects stood still, looking one last time at their grieving family who had just come from Laos to attend the trial.