HÀ NỘI A narcotics officer in Hà Nội has been accused of taking a VNĐ1 billion (US$43,500) bribe to entrap a man by planting drugs in his car.

Former Senior Lieutenant Nguyễn Thị Vững, 41, and the victim’s ex-girlfriend, 37-year-old Nguyễn Thị Vân, were accused of illegal possession of narcotics and slander, police announced on Friday.

According to police, they attempted to frame 44-year-old Nguyễn Văn Thiện, Van's boyfriend.

Vân was the alleged mastermind behind the plot to plant drugs in Thiện’s car, and went to Vũng for help.

Vân agreed to pay Vững VNĐ1 billion (US$43,500) for help putting her lover behind bars, reportedly due to jealousy over his romantic relationships with other women.

Drug possession is deemed a very serious crime in Việt Nam, and just 100g of heroin or meth can lead to a life sentence or even the death penalty.

On October 21, 2016, Vững allegedly sent a man carrying the drugs to Vân, which were then hidden inside the couple’s car.

After having confirmed with Vân the whereabouts of the drugs, Vững notified the Hà Nội mobile police force that there were narcotics inside Thiện’s car.

A week later, Thiện was stopped by police while driving with Vân. Police discovered four packs of heroin and meth in his car.

The police took the man into custody for a week, and released him afterwards as they could not find sufficient evidence to charge him with drug possession.

Thien, suspicious of his girlfriend, spied on her and managed to gather text chats between Vân and Vững about their plan and records of their conversations.

The police, upon receiving the evidence, initiated an investigation into the case.

The two face almost certain jail time if convicted of drug possession.

The man supposed to have handed the drugs to Vân, however, has yet to be identified. — VNS