Vietnam drug trafficking sentencing

In late July 2026, Vietnam’s People’s Court in Ho Chi Minh City handed down severe penalties for a large‑scale drug trafficking network. Fifteen defendants were convicted for handling more than 25 kg of methamphetamine, ketamine and MDMA, often concealed in holiday gift baskets. Two alleged leaders, Nguyễn Chí Việt (born 1988) and Đoàn Chí Hải (born 2000), received death sentences, marking one of the harshest punishments for drug offenses in recent Vietnamese history. Four co‑defendants were sentenced to life imprisonment, while the remaining nine received prison terms ranging from two to twenty years. Authorities also seized over a kilogram of ketamine, a firearm and additional narcotics during the investigation, emphasizing the operation’s danger and the government’s intent to deter illicit trafficking.