A court in Vietnam has handed death sentences to 11 people in one of the country’s largest drug trafficking cases, following an extensive investigation into an international narcotics network.
The Ho Chi Minh City People’s Court delivered its verdict on September 3, with a total of 227 defendants involved in the major criminal case. Authorities said the investigation uncovered a sophisticated operation that allegedly transported illegal drugs from France into Vietnam before distributing them across the country.
Major Drug Smuggling Investigation Began in 2023
The case began after authorities discovered more than 10 kilograms of narcotics hidden inside 157 toothpaste tubes in March 2023. The shipment included large quantities of MDMA and ketamine.
The drugs were carried into Ho Chi Minh City by four Vietnam Airlines flight attendants arriving from Paris. Investigators later concluded that the women were unaware they were transporting narcotics.
The discovery triggered a wider investigation that eventually exposed what authorities described as a transnational drug trafficking network.
11 Receive Death Penalty, Others Get Life Sentences
Among the 227 defendants, 11 people were sentenced to death for their involvement in the drug trafficking operation. Another 19 defendants received life sentences, while many others were given varying prison terms for offences connected to the case.
The VN10 case included allegations involving illegal drug transportation, drug trafficking, possession of narcotics and organising illegal drug use.
Network Allegedly Used Sophisticated Methods
Investigators said members of the criminal network allegedly relied on encrypted communication platforms, bank accounts registered under other names and delivery services to move and distribute drugs.
The investigation grew into one of Vietnam’s most significant narcotics cases, highlighting the scale and complexity of international drug trafficking networks operating across borders.
