PHU THO PROVINCE, Vietnam — A senior drug enforcement officer in northern Vietnam has been sentenced to life imprisonment for orchestrating fake drug arrests to boost his professional record.
Nguyen Quang Vinh, 42, deputy head of the Drug Crime Investigation Police in Viet Tri City, was convicted Tuesday of illegally trading narcotics, according to a local court ruling.
Two of Vinh’s accomplices, Nguyen Muoi, 36, and Giang A Sua, 42, were sentenced to death for their roles in the operation.
The scheme came to light in July 2024 when Muoi and Sua were arrested in Ba Vi District, on the outskirts of Hanoi, with 12,000 amphetamine pills hidden in jars of pickled bamboo shoots.
Investigators discovered that Vinh had instructed Muoi — a repeat offender with prior convictions for extortion, illegal arms possession, and drug trafficking — to acquire narcotics and bring them to Viet Tri. The aim: to stage an arrest and claim professional credit.
Muoi contacted former cellmate Sua to source the drugs, transferring VND75 million (US$2,875) for the purchase. Vinh allegedly contributed part of the funds and even borrowed VND30 million from Muoi to complete the transaction.
On July 13, Sua traveled to Laos to procure the drugs, with plans to deliver them in Hoa Binh Province two days later. Vinh, pretending to act on a tip, proposed a sting operation to his superiors and led the successful “bust.”
However, further investigation revealed phone call records, money transfers, and contradicting testimonies that exposed Vinh’s orchestration of the entire setup.
Despite denying the charges, prosecutors proved Vinh’s direct involvement in trafficking 1.2 kilograms of amphetamine pills from Laos to Vietnam. The court found the evidence sufficient and upheld the maximum sentence.
Muoi also alleged Vinh ordered two previous drug acquisitions, but lack of evidence prevented additional charges.
