In a striking turn of events, the People’s Court in Ho Chi Minh City has sentenced 11 individuals to death for their involvement in one of the country’s largest drug trafficking cases. This ruling comes shortly after the Vietnamese government proposed abolishing capital punishment for six offenses, including drug trafficking, during a review of its Penal Code. However, the proposed changes have not yet come into effect to apply to this latest case, according to reports.
The case originated from the discovery in March 2023 of over 10 kilograms of narcotics concealed within 157 tubes of toothpaste transported by four flight attendants of Vietnam Airlines arriving from Paris at Tan Son Nhat Airport. Authorities later determined that the women were unaware of the drugs they were carrying.
20 Additional Sentences of Life Imprisonment
Investigators uncovered what prosecutors describe as a transnational trafficking network that smuggled illegal narcotics hidden in consumer goods from France to Vietnam. Prosecutors indicated that the network employed encrypted messaging platforms, bank accounts registered under the names of others, and courier services to distribute drugs throughout southern Vietnam.
In addition to the 11 death sentences, at least 20 other defendants have received life imprisonment sentences in connection with the case.
Details of the Seized Drugs
Among those sentenced to death is Hà Danh Nậm, aged 52, identified by prosecutors as the mastermind behind the drug transport operations from France to Vietnam. Nậm reportedly concealed drugs in items such as toothpaste, coffee, chocolate, and shampoo, ensuring that individuals from France carried them in their luggage or sent them via express courier.
The intercepted shipment at Tan Son Nhat Airport in March contained over 8.3 kg of MDMA and nearly 3 kg of ketamine. Prosecutors have also identified Nguyễn Huy Hoàng, 29, as a key buyer, who allegedly obtained 118,600 MDMA pills weighing approximately 39.8 kg through a contact on Telegram between February and March 2023. Hoàng reportedly distributed drugs to various buyers, including Lê Thắng Anh Tú, with his accomplices assisting in receiving, storing, and delivering the narcotics.
Government’s Consideration of Death Penalty Reforms
The court’s rulings occur at a time when Vietnam is contemplating reforms regarding the death penalty. Last month, the government proposed abolishing capital punishment for six offenses, including drug trafficking, as part of a review of the Penal Code. Nonetheless, the proposed amendments have yet to be enacted.
The Minister of Public Security, Luong Tam Quang, informed the National Assembly that the project will maintain the death penalty only for four offenses: treason, murder, terrorism, and the illegal production of narcotics. “Restricting the scope of application institutionalizes Party policy, aligns with progressive legislative trends, and strengthens Vietnam’s position on penal judicial cooperation, extradition, and mutual legal assistance,” the minister stated.
