A construction contractor in Phu Tho, Vietnam, has been charged with illegal drug activities after it was discovered that he was paying his workers with heroin. The contractor, identified as T.M.C., aged 38, along with his accomplice T.V.T., aged 29, provided 42 packets of heroin to their workers over the course of just two days.

On August 10, local police announced that their drug investigation unit had uncovered the case involving the illegal sale and use of narcotics. Authorities had previously conducted a search in Nông Trang ward, where they found T.M.C. in possession of over 14.6 grams of heroin hidden in a bag in his motorcycle. A subsequent search of his residence yielded an additional 0.05 grams of the drug.

During the investigation, T.M.C. admitted that the heroin was intended as payment for his laborers. Further inquiries revealed that T.M.C. had directed T.V.T. to distribute the drug as compensation to four workers: L.V.L., Q.V.C., Q.V.L., and T.V.D., all of whom are from various provinces in Vietnam.

In total, T.M.C. and T.V.T. purchased the heroin from another individual, L.T.B., for 20 million VND. The police have since charged T.M.C., T.V.T., and L.T.B. with drug trafficking, while T.V.D. faces charges for illegal drug use. The other three workers, L.V.L., Q.V.C., and Q.V.L., were found to have used drugs but their actions did not warrant criminal charges, and they will be processed according to legal regulations.

This case highlights the alarming trend of drug use infiltrating the workplace, particularly in construction sites where laborers from various regions converge. Authorities emphasize that using drugs as a form of payment not only violates the law but also poses significant risks to workers' health and well-being, potentially leading to addiction and further societal issues.