Vietnamese National in Germany to Face Trial in Absentia for Drug Smuggling

Hanoi, Vietnam – The Hanoi City People's Court is preparing to hold an in absentia trial for Cai Quang Huy, a Vietnamese national residing in Germany and currently on an international wanted list, on charges of "Illegally transporting narcotics." The trial is scheduled for September 29, 2026. According to case records, Cai Quang Huy (born 2000, formerly residing in Tay Hieu ward, Nghe An province, currently residing in the Federal Republic of Germany) met Nguyen Huu Duc (from Hanoi) while they were both working as kitchen staff at a restaurant in Berlin, Germany. In December 2024, Duc returned to Vietnam to live with his family. In early January 2025, Huy contacted Duc to inquire about his well-being. During their conversation, Duc asked Huy to buy some cigarettes and cigars to send back to Vietnam for guests, as Duc was preparing for his son's wedding. About a week later, Huy called Duc to inform him that he had purchased the cigarettes and cigars. Additionally, Huy mentioned buying some sweets and traditional medicine to send along as gifts for Huy's mother for Tet (Lunar New Year). Duc provided Huy with his home address and phone number for shipping. On January 21, 2025, a delivery service employee contacted Duc to inform him of a package from abroad. Duc instructed the employee to deliver the package to his home. Upon receiving the package, Duc was inspected by law enforcement authorities, who discovered narcotics concealed within the box. Duc claimed he was unaware that the package sent by Huy contained drugs. Previously, Huy had instructed Duc to take out his personal items from the package and send the remaining items to Huy's family in Nghe An. While authorities were investigating the case, in April 2025, Cai Quang Huy, residing in Germany, contacted Nguyen Tien Dat (born 1989, residing in Tay Hieu ward, Nghe An) to hire him to receive two packages of cosmetics from abroad, which concealed narcotics, for a fee of 110 million Vietnamese Dong. Judicial authorities have determined that from January 21, 2025, to April 24, 2025, Cai Quang Huy illegally transported narcotics from the Federal Republic of Germany to Vietnam twice via Noi Bai International Airport. The total quantity of narcotics for which Huy is criminally liable is 9,642.24 grams of MDMA and 405.99 grams of Ketamine. The quantity of narcotics for which Nguyen Tien Dat is criminally liable is 4,277.950 grams of MDMA. At the investigation agency, Nguyen Tien Dat confessed to the crime, consistent with the investigation documents. Dat stated he had not yet received the transportation fee from Huy. Regarding Cai Quang Huy, who is currently in the Federal Republic of Germany, the investigation agency has issued a wanted notice and is proceeding with legal procedures for an in absentia trial in accordance with the law, including publicizing relevant legal documents at the headquarters of the Tay Hieu Ward People's Committee in Nghe An province. For Nguyen Huu Duc, during the investigation, Duc claimed he did not know that the package sent by Huy contained narcotics. The investigation agency also could not collect documents or evidence proving that Duc knew the package contained narcotics but still accepted it. Therefore, there are insufficient grounds to prove Duc's complicity in the illegal transportation of narcotics with Cai Quang Huy. On April 13, 2026, the Hanoi City People's Procuracy decided to revoke the decision to prosecute Nguyen Huu Duc as a defendant. The Hanoi City People's Court is currently calling on the defendant Cai Quang Huy to surrender and appear in court to exercise his right to self-defense as stipulated by law. Source: Nhan Dan