HO CHI MINH CITY, Vietnam – Vietnam has sentenced 18 people to death on drug smuggling and trafficking charges, including two South Koreans. The communist country is known for its strict drug laws and secrecy surrounding executions. The South Korean ex-police officer Kim Soon-sik, 63, and compatriot Kang Seon-hok, 30, received their sentences following a four-day trial in Ho Chin Minh City. Additionally, Chinese citizen Li Tian Guan, 58, and alleged Vietnamese ringleader Le Ho Vu, 36, were also handed death sentences.

State media reported that the group was involved in the illegal storage, trafficking, and trading of more than 216kg of drugs between May and June 2020. A large quantity of drugs was confiscated, with some being consumed domestically in Vietnam and others being transported to South Korea. The operation was busted on July 19 in Ho Chi Minh City when officers found 39.5kg of methamphetamine inside a container truck preparing for shipment to South Korea.

The death sentences were handed down at the Family and Juvenile Court, under Ho Chi Minh City People’s Court. Additionally, 14 other people were also sentenced to death in connection with the case, and three defendants received life imprisonment for illegal drug trafficking. Vietnamese courts are known for routinely handing out death sentences for drug convictions, with more than 100 people being sentenced to death in the country last year.

It is important to note that Vietnam is a leading executioner globally, and executions are carried out by lethal injection, replacing executions by firing squads since 2013. The country is notably secretive about its executions, and many individuals face long spells in detention before being executed. Amnesty International and the Death Penalty Information Center are among the international organizations that monitor and report on the country’s use of the death penalty.

Overall, Vietnam’s tough drug laws coupled with its high number of executions reflect the country’s firm stance on combating drug trafficking and related offenses. The government’s strict approach serves as a deterrent to those engaging in illegal drug activities.