"We are humane with criminals, we are cruel to our compatriots, to those who live by the law, to the relatives of the victims".
The above is the opinion of delegate Pham Khanh Phong Lan at the discussion on the draft Penal Code (amended) held on May 20.
According to the report, the Government proposed to abolish 8/18 crimes with the death penalty frame including: Activities to overthrow the people's government; Spy crimes; Crime of destroying facilities - techniques of Vietnam; Crime of production and trading of fake goods is a medicine and preventive medicine; Illegal transportation of narcotics; Crime of property embezzlement; Guilty of accepting bribes; Crime of destroying peace, causing war invasion.
Delegate Pham Khanh Phong Lan said she felt concerned about abolishing the death penalty for 4 crimes: Transporting drugs; producing and trading counterfeit goods such as medicine, medicine to prevent diseases; embezzlement; accepting bribes.
Of the 4 crimes that delegate Pham Khanh Phong Lan "feeled concerned about", there was a crime of illegally transporting drugs. This is a dangerous violation, and the death penalty should not be imposed for this type of crime.
Delegate Nguyen Thanh Sang (HCMC Delegation) said that in recent times, although the death penalty has been maintained, the illegal drug trafficking and transportation situation has been increasing, now transporting it tokg or tons.
Delegate Nguyen Thanh Sang warned: "If the death penalty is abolished, it is unwise for Vietnam to become a drug transit point abroad. They are not afraid of the death penalty, now that they have abandoned it, they do not understand how".
Through many drug trafficking and transportation cases, it shows that these criminals are very reckless, bold and violent. Most recently, on April 17, a drug trafficking gang opened fire on authorities in Quang Ninh, killing Lieutenant Bui Dang Khai.
Despite being attacked and destroyed many times, drug criminals are still active and spreading crimes.
In 2024, the national drug crime investigation force successfully fought 29,928 cases, arrested 51,938 subjects, seized 60kg of alcohol, 680kg of heroin, nearly 2.3 tons of marijuana; 3.3 tons and 3.3 million synthetic drug pills, 138 guns and many bullets.
Drug criminals often equip themselves with weapons to fight against functional forces, which is very dangerous.
Drugs destroy many lives and families, causing insecurity in society. Drugs are the "man" used to create many other types of criminal crimes.
Abolishing the death penalty is a trend in many civilized countries, Vietnam is also considering abolishing the death penalty for some crimes. However, for the crime of illegally transporting drugs, it is necessary to consider carefully and consult legal experts to make the right decision.
