>> Thai girl gets death penalty for drugs in Vietnam
>> Young woman gets death penalty for drug trafficking
>> Woman gets death sentence for drug trafficking
>> Six get death sentences for drug trafficking
>> HCMC female student gets life for drug trafficking
Nguyen Thi Hanh, 43, admitted to sneaking 8.4 kg of methamphetamine total into the country from Laos, along with her son, who received a life sentence.
In addition to Nguyen Canh Chien, who is 22, the People’s Court in Ha Tinh Province also ordered Ha Thuc Cheng, 38, to life behind bars.
Two other collaborators, Nguyen Hien Nam, 39, and Tran Thi Phuong Thanh, 25, were sentenced to 20 years and 14 years in prison, respectively.
Police arrested the mother and son, who are from Nghe An Province’s Vinh City, as they tried to smuggle 5.4 kg of methamphetamine at the Cau Treo International Border Gate in August, according to the indictment.
The contraband, divided into seven bags hidden in a used paint can, marked the pair’s six delivery into Vietnam, starting in May 2011.
Hanh (C) and her four accomplices at the trial on June 29, 2012 (Photo: Dan Tri)
Death penalty for three other women
The latest verdict comes after many other cases of drug trafficking into the country.
In separate cases this year, three women found themselves facing capital punishment: two college students and a ringleader moving drugs from Cambodia.
Le Thi Thu Thao, 30, oversaw an 11-member network of smugglers, including her significant other, whose convictions in April amounted to prison sentences ranging from four years to life. Thao received the death penalty.
One of the other three women, 23-year-old Tran Ha Duy, saw her life sentence increased to the death penalty at an appeal hearing June 20.
Prosecutors in Ho Chi Minh City initiated the appeal after finding the original judgment in March insufficient.
Duy took part in a drug ring organized by foreigners in October 2010, when she was a student at Hong Bang University. She later enlisted her sister, Tran Ha Tien, 21 and also a student. Each received US$500 to $1,000 each time they brought drugs into Vietnam.
After her sister’s arrest at Tan Son Nhat Airport in July 2011, Duy turned herself in. Tien was sentenced to 20 years imprisonment.
Tran Ha Duy nearly passed out in the court room after being given a death penalty on June 20 (Photo: VietNamNet)