Two S. Koreans Among 18 Sentenced To Death In Vietnam Drug Bust: State Media
Faizan Hashmi Published November 12, 2023 | 12:40 PM
Hanoi, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 12th Nov, 2023) Two South Koreans were among 18 people sentenced to death on drug smuggling and trafficking charges in Vietnam, state media said.
The communist country has some of the toughest drug laws in the world, and is notoriously secretive about its executions.
South Korean ex-police officer Kim Soon-sik, 63, and compatriot Kang Seon-hok, 30, were sentenced to death following a four-day trial in Ho Chin Minh City, state media said late Saturday.
Chinese citizen Li Tian Guan, 58, and alleged Vietnamese ringleader Le Ho Vu, 36, were also handed death sentences.
Fourteen other people were also handed death sentences in connection with the case, following the trial in the Family and Juvenile Court, under Ho Chi Minh City People's Court.
The group "illegally stored, trafficked and traded more than 216kg of drugs" between May and June 2020, state media news site Cong an Nhan dan reported.
More than 168 kilograms (370 Pounds) of "all kinds of drugs" were confiscated, it reported, without specifying what type.
The narcotics were trafficked from Cambodia to Ho Chin Minh City, according to Vu, where some were "consumed domestically" while others were transported to South Korea, Cong an Nhan dan said.
Officers busted the operation on July 19 in Ho Chin Minh City, according to the reported indictment, when they searched a container truck preparing to complete customs clearance for shipment to South Korea.
Inside they found "40 plastic packages containing white crystals, with a total of 39.5kg of methamphetamine".
State media reported Vu was convicted of "illegal transportation of drugs" and "using fake seals or documents of organisations".
The other 17 people were convicted of "illegal possession of drug", "illegal trading of drugs", "illegal drug trafficking" and "organisation of illegal use of drugs", state media said.
Three defendants were also sentenced to life imprisonment for "illegal drug trafficking", Cong an Nhan dan reported.
It added that one person, who was under 18 years old, was sentenced to 15 years imprisonment.
There was no indication when the executions would be carried out.
Vietnamese courts routinely hand out death sentences for drug convictions, and the country is a leading executioner globally, according to Amnesty International.
More than 100 people were sentenced to death in Vietnam last year, according to the international monitoring NGO the Death Penalty Information Center.
Many face long spells in detention before they are executed, with information about their trials and deaths scarce.
In 2017 Vietnam's courts handed down death sentences to eight drug traffickers for smuggling heroin to China.
Since 2013, Vietnam has carried out death sentences by lethal injection, replacing executions by firing squads.
bur-rbu/mtp
Related Topics
Recent Stories
07 day anti-polio drive launches in Khairpur
Dr Mumtaz calls for strengthening NDMA, PDMA to tackle climate changes issues
Anti-polio campaign kicks off in 30 district of Balochistan
China strongly condemns perpetrators of atrocity in Gaza
Top Pak athletes to feature in 8th Jiu-Jitsu Asian Championship
Week-long anti-polio campaign inaugurated in RWP
Police launch 24/7 drive-through facility: SSP
SBP decides to keep policy rate unchanged at 22 per cent
3rd polio drive of 2024 starts
Scotland's first minister Yousaf quits after a year
ADF presents aquaculture investment opportunities at Barcelona Seafood Expo
Two bootleggers held with imported wine
More Stories From World
-
China strongly condemns perpetrators of atrocity in Gaza
14 minutes ago -
Scotland's first minister Yousaf quits after a year
26 minutes ago -
ADF presents aquaculture investment opportunities at Barcelona Seafood Expo
26 minutes ago -
Madinah Governor receives Indonesian Ambassador
39 minutes ago -
Dozens killed as dam bursts in flood-hit Kenya
60 minutes ago -
NATO chief says 'not too late' for Ukraine to win war
1 hour ago
-
Bayern ready for 'extraordinary' Bellingham, says Tuchel
1 hour ago -
US, Egypt 'hopeful' of Gaza truce as envoys meet in Cairo
39 minutes ago -
Pakistan looks forward to learning from China's experience in governance, development: Kasuri
2 hours ago -
Spain PM Sanchez walks back from resignation threat
2 hours ago -
EU says Apple iPad operating system to face stricter rules
2 hours ago -
PM, Malaysian counterpart reaffirm to broaden bilateral cooperation in diverse fields
2 hours ago