VIETNAM: 9 SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR SMUGGLING 91 KG OF DRUGS FROM CAMBODIA

April 28, 2025:

Nine individuals received death sentences on April 26, 2025 for their roles in a major drug trafficking ring, which smuggled 91 kilograms of drugs hidden inside air purifiers and motorbikes from Cambodia into Vietnam.
The Ho Chi Minh City People's Court identified Tran Hoang Tin, 39, as the leader of the sophisticated trafficking network. Alongside Tin, La Gia Cuong, 55, and seven other accomplices were sentenced to death for drug trading. Cuong also faced additional charges for drug storage.
Court documents detailed how Tin coordinated transnational drug trafficking operations, communicating with Vietnamese and Cambodian partners.
Tin initially bought 10 packages of drugs hidden inside six air purifiers from Pham Thi Kim Phung in Cambodia in October 2022, intending to resell them to another buyer, Cao Thien Phuoc.
When the drugs were rejected by Phuoc for low quality, Tin switched suppliers and purchased narcotics from Cuong, again using household appliances to conceal and transport the contraband.
Further investigation revealed that Tin also sourced drugs from Nguyen Van Can for distribution across Ho Chi Minh City and Binh Thuan Province. Police arrested Can on April 9, 2023, confiscating over 21 kilograms of drugs concealed in various vehicles. Subsequent raids at other gang members' properties uncovered an additional 30 kilograms.
Authorities said that from December 2022 to April 2023, the drug ring trafficked over 91 kilograms of illegal substances, generating illicit profits totaling around VND1.3 billion ($49,958) for Tin.