A Kenyan lady has been condemned to death in Vietnam, which is recognized for having some of the world’s harshest drug regulations.According to reports from the Asian nation, the woman was convicted of trafficking more than 2kg of cocaine.
Nduta was apprehended at Tân Sơn Nhất International Airport, which serves Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam’s largest city. Vietnamese police stated that a guy in Kenya had engaged Nduta to convey a bag to Laos in July 2023.
The luggage was purportedly destined for delivery to a woman in Laos, with Nduta returning with undefined ‘goods’.The Kenyan’s employer paid her $1,300 (roughly Ksh167,895 at current currency rates) for her role in the transaction.
According to the indictment, the Kenyan man who employed Nduta would also pay for her aircraft tickets. According to the accusation, Nduta traveled through multiple countries beginning on July 7 and ending in Tân Sơn Nhất Airport in Ho Chi Minh City on July 14.
Due to a delay in her airline’s arrival, airport personnel recommended Nduta complete the requisite processes for entering Vietnam before they could assist her in booking a trip to Laos.
However, during the immigration check, police discovered more than 2 kg of cocaine hidden in her suitcase. During her court appearance, Nduta stated that she was unaware of the drugs when she got the luggage.
Prosecutors said that this argument was an attempt to avoid blame for her activities and that she must face responsibility for the drug trafficking.
On Thursday, Nduta was sentenced to death. Individuals sentenced to death for drug offenses in Vietnam must go through a thorough judicial process before they are executed.
Following sentencing, the Supreme People’s Court and Supreme People’s Procuracy assess the case and have up to two months to rule on any special appeals.
The condemned individual has seven days to petition the State President for clemency. If these channels do not yield a reprieve, the court orders the execution.
The time between sentencing and execution varies based on the circumstances of each case and the time required for legal reviews and clemency considerations.
Vietnam is noted for having some of the world’s harshest drug regulations, with punishments for drug trafficking ranging from long jail sentences to capital punishment, depending on the gravity of the offense.
