Court sentences eight to death for heroin trafficking

The People's Court of Hoa Binh province sentenced eight people to death and five others to life imprisonment for trafficking 189.35kg of heroin on January 19.

The People's Court of Hoa Binh province sentenced eight people to death and five others to life imprisonment for trafficking 189.35kg of heroin on January 19.

Driver Vu Ngoc Son (Source: VNA)

Over 13 days of legal proceedings, 35 people involved in the case were prosecuted.

According to court papers, on June 15, 2011, police from the Drug Crime Investigation Department under the Ministry of Public Security and Hoa Binh Province police inspected a car traveling in the direction of Son La-Hoa Binh on National Highway 6 in the area of Phong Phu commune, Tan Lac district, Hoa Binh.

The driver, 37-year-old Vu Ngoc Son from Bac Giang province, then clashed with police forces. The resulting gunfight injured one police officer.

Further investigations during more than three years showed that Son was the head of a trafficking network involving at least 47 people, some of whom are still on the run.

The court revoked billions of dong from the defendants and handed sentences from 2-20 years in prison to the rest of 22 defendants.

The defendants were also charged with bribery, going against the authorities and using weapons.