A former deputy chief of the narcotics investigation unit in Viet Tri City, Phu Tho province, has been sentenced to life in prison for participating in a drug trafficking operation he helped orchestrate under the guise of law enforcement.
Nguyen Quang Vinh, who once held a senior position within the Viet Tri City police, was found guilty of drug trafficking after a Hanoi court determined he had provided funds to known criminals to purchase 12,000 methamphetamine tablets — commonly referred to as “pink pills” — and transport them into the city, where he planned to stage an arrest and claim credit.
Orchestrated Arrest to “Earn Merits”
According to the indictment by the Supreme People’s Procuracy, Vinh approached a known drug offender, Nguyen Muoi, in May 2024 and proposed a covert arrangement: Muoi would purchase narcotics from suppliers, bring them into Viet Tri, and Vinh would organize a staged arrest to boost his career record.
In July 2024, Muoi contacted Giang A Sua, a drug trafficker from Son La province, to order the 12,000 tablets. Vinh and Muoi transferred VND 75 million (approx. USD 3,000) as a down payment for the drugs. Sua then smuggled the drugs from Laos into Vietnam and concealed them in pickled bamboo jars to avoid detection.
Botched Plan and Nationwide Arrest
On July 15, 2024, Vinh organized a task force to “monitor drug routes” between Phu Tho and Hoa Binh provinces. While the task force was en route, Muoi and Sua completed the drug exchange and began transporting the narcotics back toward Viet Tri.
However, before they could reach their destination, Muoi’s vehicle was intercepted in Ba Vi District, Hanoi, by the Ministry of Public Security’s Anti-Narcotics Department. Authorities seized all 12,000 meth pills and took the suspects into custody.
Weapons Seized, Additional Suspects Convicted
Further investigation revealed that Muoi was also in illegal possession of two K59 pistols and 70 rounds of ammunition, supplied by Phang A Vang, another individual from Son La province. The weapons were intended for protection during drug transactions.
As a result of the trial Nguyen Quang Vinh received a life sentence for drug trafficking. Nguyen Muoi (36, from Phu Tho) and Giang A Sua (42, from Son La) were sentenced to death for both drug trafficking and illegal possession and sale of military-grade weapons. Phang A Vang (26, also from Son La) was sentenced to four years in prison for weapons-related offenses.
Despite Vinh’s claims that he merely sought intelligence to conduct a legitimate arrest, the court ruled that phone recordings, financial transfers, and Muoi’s testimony clearly implicated him in actively facilitating and profiting from the drug trade.
The case has sent shockwaves through Vietnam’s law enforcement community, highlighting deep concerns over corruption and abuse of power within anti-narcotics units.
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Source: Vietnam Insider