The Ho Chi Minh City People's Procuracy has issued an indictment prosecuting Nguyen Thi Thuoc, 79, a resident of Ho Chi Minh City, on a charge of illegal drug trafficking.
Evidence in a drug case (Illustrative photo: T.T.).
According to the indictment, around October 2024, Thuoc began buying drugs from a man identified as Truong, whose background remains unclear. She stored the narcotics at her home in the former Go Vap District and then divided them into smaller quantities for resale at a profit.
On January 7, 2025, police searched Thuoc's home and seized more than 1.3 kilogrammes of drugs. In this case, the defendant is alleged to bear criminal responsibility for about 3 kilogrammes of various narcotics. During the investigation, authorities also clarified the conduct of those who bought and sold drugs with Thuoc.
In statements to investigators, Thuoc said that around August 2024, while caring for her son in hospital, she became acquainted with a man named Thuan. Aware of her financial hardship, Thuan suggested that she join the drug trade to make money, and she agreed.
In early October 2024, Thuan brought a woman to introduce a drug supply source. However, because Thuoc had previously been arrested for drug trafficking, she believed the drugs were of poor quality and refused to accept them. About a week later, the woman introduced Truong so that Thuoc could deal directly with him.
By mid-October 2024, Truong contacted Thuoc using a Cambodian phone number and sent someone to deliver drugs for her inspection. After checking the goods, Thuoc agreed to buy them and subsequently conducted multiple transactions with Truong.
To pay for the drugs, Thuoc asked her granddaughter, Tran Thi Lan Anh, to set up a Telegram account, contact Truong and assist with money transfers. According to investigators, Lan Anh only carried out the transfers at Thuoc's instruction and knew the money was being used to pay for drugs, but did not know the specific quantity or type of narcotics involved in Thuoc's transactions.