Arresting a gang using guns to protect rice harvesters in Thanh Chuong

Around the end of April 2019, farmers in Thanh Chuong district started harvesting winter-spring rice. At the same time, there were also crimes in the district that showed signs of protection and collecting money from harvester owners, causing public outrage. Faced with this situation, Thanh Chuong district police established Project 519C to combat this.

Through the process of reconnaissance and synchronous use of professional measures, on May 6, 2019, the Special Task Force solved the case, arresting 3 subjects: Tran Van Manh (born in 1982), Pham Cong Bao (born in 1987), both residing in Thanh Long commune, Thanh Chuong district, and Nguyen Ba Su (born in 1992), residing in Ma Thanh commune, Yen Thanh district, for the act of "Extortion of property". Confiscated from the subjects were 4 homemade guns, 3 machetes and 1 million VND in cash.

Tran Van Manh is the ringleader with the seized evidence. Photo: Quynh Trang

Previously, during the harvest season, with the aim of contracting to harvest the entire field of Thanh Long commune, Thanh Chuong district, the subjects forced people to rent their harvesters with "protection" at high prices. If they did not agree, they would not let them harvest or keep the harvested rice.

For harvester owners outside the area, if they want to operate, they must pay them 20,000 VND/1 sao. To legalize this extortion, the subjects forced the harvester owners to sign a pre-prepared harvester rental contract.

Although upset by their insolent behavior, many people are afraid of affecting their harvest, so they have to be patient and accept it.

The leader of this group is Tran Van Manh, who has 6 previous convictions for disturbing public order and illegal possession of drugs...

Three suspects were arrested. Photo: Quynh Trang

Manh assigned his two juniors, Bao and Su, the daily task of monitoring and guarding the rice fields. If he discovered a strange harvester, he would come and "ask" it. If the owner of that harvester did not cooperate, he would immediately chase it away, destroy the machine, or even assault it.

Through the investigation, the case has clarified the acts of protection and extortion of money by these 3 subjects against many harvester owners hired by people to harvest rice in Thanh Chuong district from the end of April 2019 to present with the amount of tens of millions of VND.

Currently, the Investigation Committee is continuing to expand the investigation and recover related exhibits.

Thanh Long Commune is located on the right bank of Lam River, bordering Vo Liet Commune to the West and North, Thanh Ha Commune to the South, and Lam River to the East. The commune is about 40 km from Vinh City, about 13 km from Dung Town and about 2 km from Ro Market to the North.