Vietnam sentences 11 to death in major drug trafficking case

The Ho Chi Minh City People's Court has sentenced 11 individuals to death in one of Vietnam's largest drug trafficking cases. The investigation began in March 2023 after four Vietnam Airlines flight attendants were caught with narcotics concealed inside toothpaste tubes upon arrival from Paris.

Authorities determined the flight attendants were unaware of the contents of the shipment. Investigators subsequently uncovered a transnational drug trafficking network that used encrypted messaging apps, bank accounts held in other people's names, and delivery services to distribute drugs across southern Vietnam. The case involves a total of 227 defendants, with at least 20 others receiving life imprisonment.

These rulings come as the Vietnamese government considers legal reforms. Last month, officials proposed abolishing the death penalty for six crimes, including drug trafficking, though these changes have not yet taken effect.