Two Sentenced to Death in Vietnam for Drug Smuggling Hidden in Gift Baskets

Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam – Two individuals have been sentenced to death for their involvement in a large-scale drug smuggling operation that utilized Tet holiday gift baskets to disguise narcotics. The sentences highlight Vietnam's stringent approach to drug offenses. According to court documents, Nguyễn Chí Việt and Đoàn Chí Hải were handed the death penalty by the Ho Chi Minh City People's Court on July 24th. They were found guilty of illegally buying and selling narcotics. Việt had reportedly been hired by an unidentified individual named Quân to act as a key contact for storing, packaging, and distributing drugs in Ho Chi Minh City. In late January 2024, Việt received 210 million VND from Quân to rent a house in Tân Nhựt commune, Bình Chánh district, to serve as a hub for the operation. Following the delivery of various types of narcotics to this location, Việt was instructed to conceal them within Tet gift baskets and confectionery for discreet transportation and delivery to customers. Việt subsequently enlisted Đoàn Chí Hải to assist with packaging and using ride-hailing services to deliver the drugs as directed by Quân. The investigation revealed that Việt and Hải repeatedly handed over these disguised gift baskets containing drugs to multiple recipients in Ho Chi Minh City and Long An province (now part of Tây Ninh province). Among those implicated, Nguyễn Văn Quốc received approximately 2 kg of methamphetamine on two occasions for further distribution. Nguyễn Hồ Đức Lưu also received 2 kg of methamphetamine and 2,000 ecstasy pills twice, which he then sold to other dealers. Authorities also identified that Việt supplied drugs to numerous other individuals within the network for continued consumption. Huỳnh Thị Mộng Thùy, Việt's girlfriend, is accused of being aware of the drug trade. When Việt was absent, she allegedly allowed buyers into the house to conduct transactions with Hải under Việt's instructions. Previously, Thùy had also taken a small amount of drugs from Việt's stash to her residence for personal use, leading to her discovery. The operation came to light on February 2, 2024, when police on patrol in Tân Nhựt commune became suspicious of Việt and Hải, who were on a motorbike outside an unmarked house. A search of their vehicle's storage compartment yielded over 1 kg of Ketamine, a revolver, and nine bullets. A subsequent search of the house uncovered an additional 21 kg of various narcotics and packaging equipment. Based on the defendants' testimonies and the seized evidence, the investigation expanded, leading to the arrest of several other individuals in the ring. The total amount of narcotics seized in this case is approximately 25.5 kg, not including some batches of ecstasy pills and other drugs whose exact quantities remain undetermined. Vietnam maintains some of the world's strictest drug laws, with trafficking and possession of large quantities of narcotics often carrying severe penalties, including the death sentence.