Vietnam considers ending death penalty for drug trafficking

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The Vietnamese government proposed a revision to the Penal Code that would remove drug trafficking from the list of capital crimes. The proposal was presented to lawmakers in Hanoi last week and would restrict the death penalty to four remaining offenses: treason, murder, terrorism, and illegal narcotics production. This development marked a significant policy shift for Vietnam, which previously maintained one of the strictest anti-drug regimes in Southeast Asia.

Consequences

If the draft revision is passed, Vietnam would align its legal framework with other regional nations like Malaysia, which ended mandatory death sentences in 2023. The change would necessitate a shift in how the government approaches judicial discretion in sentencing and the disruption of the illegal drug trade.

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