The Ho Chi Minh City People’s Court on April 20 delivered first-instance verdicts against nine defendants, including five foreign nationals, following a one-day trial.

Nguyen Lap Son, 39, and Nguyen Duc Thinh, 27, received the death penalty for illegal drug trafficking. Son’s wife, Phan Thi Bich Tram, 31, was sentenced to 20 years in prison for the same charge.

Five other defendants, including Vo Ba Thinh and four Lao nationals - Thongchaleun Youkhanthone, Syvongphet Saiykham, Sisoulath Vydavone and Sivongxay Chok - were sentenced to life imprisonment for illegal drug transportation. Another defendant, Keobounmanh Heng, was given a 20-year prison term.

Prosecutors had earlier sought two death sentences and seven life terms. However, the court reduced the sentences for Phan Thi Bich Tram and Keobounmanh Heng after considering mitigating circumstances.

According to the indictment, police searched Son’s residence in Hoc Mon (Ho Chi Minh City) in the early hours of December 25, 2025 and seized more than 30.8 kg of ketamine and 51.2 kg of methamphetamine. Further searches later uncovered nearly 12 kg of ketamine, about 20 kg of methamphetamine and over 4.5 kg of heroin, along with related evidence.

Investigators found that Son had used his residence as a storage and distribution point for drugs under the direction of a wanted suspect identified as Lam Thien Hiep. He was paid monthly wages and rent for storing the narcotics.

Phan Thi Bich Tram was found to have been aware of the illegal activities and assisted in drug transactions, while Nguyen Duc Thinh participated in multiple deliveries totaling around 25 kg.

Police said Vo Ba Thinh and the Lao nationals were involved in transporting drugs from Laos into Vietnam by car before distributing them in Ho Chi Minh City. The group used sophisticated methods to evade detection.

In total, the defendants were found to have trafficked and transported 143.5 kg of various narcotics.

In the courtroom, most defendants admitted their crimes. Several female defendants broke down in tears, asking for leniency so they could return to care for their children and families.

Two suspects arrested in drug trafficking case in central Vietnam

VOV.VN - Border guards in central Ha Tinh province have arrested two individuals for transporting 24,000 methamphetamine pills in a border area between Vietnam and Laos.