Nguyễn Xuân Quý, 38,  the leader of the drug trafficking ring at the National Psychiatic Hospital No 1 where the man was receiving treatment. Photo courtesy of Hà Nội Police

HÀ NỘI — Hà Nội police have busted a drug trafficking ring that was being run out of a hospital.

According to police, a mentally ill man ran the ring from National Psychiatric Hospital No 1.

The ringleader has been identified as Nguyễn Xuân Quý, 38, who resides in Hà Nội’s Thanh Trì District.

Police investigations stated that Quý was sent to the hospital for treatment in November 2018.

He repeatedly left the hospital during treatment. In January this year, Quý was arrested by the police of Hai Bà Trưng District on charges of illegally possessing drugs but was returned to the hospital due to his mental illness.

The investigation revealed that after a long time at the hospital, he formed close relationships with a number of hospital staff and was free to come and go as he pleased.

Quý renovated a treatment room into a soundproof room and installed large speakers and laser lights to use as a place to take and sell drugs.

As well as Quý and his friends, some hospital staff were also offered drugs in the room.

He sold drugs at the hospital by telling his customers to pretend to be caregivers.

To avoid being detected, Quý hired Nguyễn Trung Nguyễn and Nguyễn Công Thường to disguise themselves as delivery drivers and stand at the hospital gate as lookouts. They also delivered drugs to customers.

On March 20, the Police Department for Investigation of Drug-related Crimes raided the hospital room, arresting Quý and five accomplices, including the two lookouts.

The police seized more than 6kg of drugs of various kinds, including ecstasy, methamphetamine and ketamine.

The investigation agency also arrested Nguyễn Anh Vũ, a technician from the rehabilitation and traditional medicine at the hospital, to investigate him for not denouncing the crime. Vũ was found to be positive for drugs after a quick test.

All the suspects reportedly admitted their crimes.

The investigation is ongoing.

At an urgent meeting on Thursday, the Ministry of Health suspended Vương Văn Tịnh, the director of the hospital, to clarify his responsibility in the incident.

The incident is not only a serious violation of the law but also a serious violation of hospital management, professional regulations and procedures in medical examination and treatment, according to Minister of Health Nguyễn Thanh Long.

Several staff members were also suspended for further investigation. They include Đỗ Thị Lưu, head of the department of rehabilitation and traditional medicine, and Tạ Thị Thêm, a nurse from the same department who treated Quý.

The Ministry of Health has told the hospital to work with law enforcement agencies in their investigations.

The ministry also told the leaders of the hospital to continue their internal investigation and strictly handle all responsible for the incident.

The hospital should strengthen security and order and review its management of patients, the ministry said. — VNS