National Psychiatric Hospital No 1 where Nguyễn Xuân Quý is receiving treatment. VNA/VNS Photo

HÀ NỘI —  The Investigation Agency for drug-related crimes under the Hà Nội Police has launched legal proceedings against Nguyễn Xuân Quý and other four accomplices on charges of selling, storing and organising the illegal use of drugs.

The other suspects are Nguyễn Văn Ngọc, Nguyễn Trung Nguyên , Nguyễn Công Thương and Lê Hoàng Hải.

Earlier on Wednesday Hà Nội police announced they had 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 morning, Nguyễn Văn Ngọc, Nguyễn Công Thương and Nguyễn Trung Nguyên were caught red-handed while they were driving a car to deliver drugs to customers. Police seized four plastic packages containing suspected drugs in Ngọc’s pockets and three bags in the back seat next to Thương. Later the contents were determined to be drugs.

The same day, Quý was caught using drugs with seven others at Riverside Hotel in Hà Nội’s Hai Bà Trưng District.

Later that day, the Police Department for Investigation of Drug-related Crimes raided the hospital room and seized more than 6kg of drugs of various kinds, including ecstasy, methamphetamine and ketamine.

Police also initiated legal proceedings against Nguyễn Anh Vũ, a technician from the rehabilitation and traditional medicine at the hospital accused of not denouncing the crime. 

All the suspects reportedly admitted their crimes.

The investigation is ongoing. VNS