Penalties for Cultivating Coca Plants Containing Narcotic Substances

Based on Article 247 of the 2015 Penal Code regulating the offense of cultivating coca plants containing narcotic substances, the penalties are as follows:

1. Any person who cultivates poppy plants, coca plants, cannabis plants, or other plants containing narcotic substances as regulated by the Government of Vietnam (supplemented by Point n Clause 1 Article 2 of the Law amending the 2017 Criminal Code) under one of the following cases, shall be sentenced to imprisonment from 06 months to 03 years:

   a) Has been educated twice and has been given conditions to stabilize their life;

   b) Has been administratively sanctioned for this act or has been convicted of this offense, without having had their criminal record expunged and re-offended;

   c) In quantities ranging from 500 plants to less than 3,000 plants.

2. Committing the offense in one of the following cases, shall be sentenced to imprisonment from 03 years to 07 years:

   a) In an organized manner;

   b) In quantities of 3,000 plants or more;

   c) Dangerous recidivism.

3. The offender may also be subject to a fine ranging from 5,000,000 VND to 50,000,000 VND.

4. Any person committing the offense under Clause 1 of this Article, but voluntarily destroys or hands over the plants to the competent authorities before harvesting, may be exempted from criminal liability.

Sincerely!