Gang arrested for using guns to extort money from rice harvesting machine operators in Thanh Chuong.

Around the end of April 2019, farmers in Thanh Chuong district began harvesting their winter-spring rice crop. Simultaneously, a type of crime involving protection rackets and extortion of money from owners of harvesting machines emerged in the district, causing public outrage. In response to this situation, the Thanh Chuong District Police established Special Case 519C to combat this crime.

Through surveillance and the coordinated use of various investigative methods, on May 6, 2019, the special task force cracked the case, apprehending three suspects: 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 crime of "extortion." They seized four homemade guns, three machetes, and 1 million VND in cash from the suspects.

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

Previously, during the harvest season, with the aim of monopolizing the harvesting of the entire rice fields in Thanh Long commune, Thanh Chuong district, these individuals forced people to rent their harvesting machines, offering them "protection money" at exorbitant prices. If people refused, they would either prevent them from harvesting or withhold the harvested rice.

For combine harvester owners from outside the area, if they want to operate, they have to pay them 20,000 VND per sao (a unit of land measurement). To legitimize this extortion, the perpetrators force the combine harvester owners to sign a pre-drafted rental contract.

Despite being outraged by their outrageous behavior, many villagers had no choice but to endure and comply for fear of affecting their harvest.

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

Three suspects were apprehended. Photo: Quynh Trang

Manh assigned his two subordinates, Bao and Su, the daily task of monitoring and guarding the rice fields. If they spotted any unfamiliar harvesting machines, they were to approach and "inquire." If the owner of the harvesting machine did not cooperate immediately, they would chase them away, destroy the machine, or even assault them.

Through the investigation, the authorities have uncovered the protection racket and extortion activities of these three individuals against numerous owners of combine harvesters hired by local people to harvest rice in Thanh Chuong district from the end of April 2019 to the present, amounting to tens of millions of VND.

The investigation team is currently continuing to expand the investigation and recover related evidence.

Thanh Long commune is located on the right bank of the Lam River, bordered to the west and north by Vo Liet commune, to the south by Thanh Ha commune, and to the east by the Lam River. The commune is approximately 40 km from Vinh City, 13 km from Dung town, and 2 km north of Ro market.