Seven individuals arrested for extorting money from peach blossom vendors during Tet (Lunar New Year).
Seven individuals who extorted money through the guise of "protection rackets" for the sale of peach blossoms during Tet (Lunar New Year) have been arrested by authorities.
Information from the Thanh Hoa Provincial Police indicates that, through intelligence gathering and public feedback, some individuals have been extorting money from businesses selling peach blossoms, kumquats, ornamental plants, and people transporting peach blossoms to sell in the CSEDP Boulevard area of Thanh Hoa City.
Through document collection, authorities determined that, despite not being authorized by the authorities, the authorities had not permitted the subdivision and sale of sidewalk space to individuals.Business and sales during Tet holidayHowever, some individuals arbitrarily divided the land into plots, numbered them, and collected money from small traders selling peach blossoms at prices ranging from 1.5 to 10 million VND per plot with a 5m sidewalk frontage, depending on the location (estimated revenue from this activity amounts to 1 billion VND).
For those transporting peach branches (or trees) from Quang Xuong and Trieu Son districts by motorbike to sell, the perpetrators charge between 10,000 and 50,000 VND per branch per day. After collecting the money, they will staple and attach a "sticker" to mark the area. Those who do not comply will be chased away, have their peach branches destroyed, or be threatened with injury.
Each day, these groups obtain approximately 500-1,000 cases (calculated per peach tree), with the total amount they earn around 2 billion VND.
Following the incident, the Criminal Police Department of Thanh Hoa Provincial Police has temporarily detained seven individuals, including: Bui Sy Ba (aka Ba Ga, born in 1969 in Tan Phong town, Quang Xuong district); Le Nguyen Cuong (aka Cuong Chip, born in 1990), Nguyen Van Son (born in 1984); Nguyen Van Lam (born in 1990), all residing in Quang Thang ward; Luong Ba Duong (born in 1996, residing in Ham Rong ward); Nguyen Dinh Chien (aka Chien Ro, born in 1990, residing in Quang Hung ward); and Nguyen Van Thuong (born in 1996, residing in Dong Ve ward), all residing in Thanh Hoa city.
The police are investigating and expanding the case.
