HANOI – An Appeal Court in northern Vietnam has upheld death sentences for 29 people in the country’s biggest-ever drug smuggling case, a court official said on Friday.
The case involved four drug smuggling rings that trafficked nearly two tonnes of heroin, as well as methamphetamine and ecstasy pills, from Laos to Vietnam and on to China since 2006.
Nong Van Len 30, was among the 30 people sentenced to death in January for smuggling heroin.
Len’s sentence was reduced to life in prison after the four-day trial ended on Thursday because he had smuggled fewer drugs than the others.
He showed “sincere and good cooperation with the court,’’ said Ngo Duc, tribunal president of Quang Ninh province’s People’s court.
Len’s sentence was the only one to be reduced.
Another 59 people were also sentenced, with 13 receiving life, and the rest receiving between two and 20 years in prison. (dpa/NAN)
