79-Year-Old Grandmother Implicated Granddaughter in Drug Ring, Sentenced to Life

Ho Chi Minh City People's Court sentenced Nguyen Thi Thuoc, 79, to life imprisonment on September 23 for illegal drug trafficking. Thuoc had three prior convictions. Her granddaughter, Tran Lan Anh, 35, was convicted as an accomplice and received a 7-year prison sentence. Ten other defendants in the same case were sentenced to between 1.5 and 20 years for crimes including illegal drug trafficking, possession, organization of illegal drug use, and failure to report crimes. At the trial, Thuoc admitted to engaging in drug sales through a "kingpin" identified only as Truong, who resided in Cambodia. Truong allegedly sent subordinates to deliver drugs to Thuoc, who then divided them for resale. Payments were facilitated by her granddaughter, Lan Anh, through bank transfers. Thuoc stated that the drug sales occurred at her home and lasted only a few months before her arrest. Her son was also sentenced to life imprisonment for drug-related offenses last month. According to investigators, Thuoc became involved in the drug ring in August 2024 after meeting someone at the hospital where her son was admitted, who suggested she sell drugs to earn money. Initially dissatisfied with the quality, she later connected with the alleged "kingpin" and began purchasing heroin. Over approximately three months, she procured and sold heroin on 10 occasions. Her involvement escalated to larger transactions, leading to her arrest on January 6, 2025. Authorities seized over 1 kilogram of heroin and approximately 300 grams of methamphetamine. Lan Anh testified that she was aware of her grandmother's drug dealing and assisted with fund transfers. However, she claimed she did not profit from the transactions and was unaware of the specific quantities or types of drugs involved. Source: VnExpress