The diary of notorious drug lord Tran Van Dong

Notorious drug lord Tran Van Dong - the leader of 3 transnational drug rings was finally caught by detectives after many days and nights on the run. What surprised the detectives was not the huge amount of drugs but the secrets hidden in the notebook that he carried with him.

The hidden boss

On August 6, 2021, Vinh City Police successfully arrested Tran Van Dong (born in 1983, residing in Thanh Long commune, Thanh Chuong district). This subject is being investigated by the Nghe An Provincial Police Investigation Agency.nationwide wanteddue to involvement in many major drug cases that the authorities had previously cracked down on.

Portrait of Tran Van Dong - the leader of the drug ring.

In fact, Dong is not a stranger to the detectives of the Vinh City Police Department's Anti-Drug Police Team.

Previously, on September 7, 2020, Vinh City Police arrested 4 subjects for illegal drug trafficking and possession. Confiscated at the scene were 13 heroin cakes, 7 kg of crystal meth, and 10,000 synthetic drug pills. It is worth mentioning that the place where the above amount of drugs were seized was Dong's parents' house in Thanh Long commune (Thanh Chuong). Dong's father, Tran Van Khanh (born 1963), was also arrested in this case.

Then, on December 19, 2020, Vinh City Police coordinated with Ngoc Lam Border Guard Station and Thanh Thuy Border Guard Station (Thanh Chuong) to break the case, arresting 2 subjects for illegal transportation and possession of drugs, seizing 11 heroin cakes, 2 kg of crystal meth, 2 kg of ketamine and more than 5,000 synthetic drug pills and 20 kg of firecrackers.

In early 2021, in the border area of ​​Ngoc Lam commune, Thanh Chuong district, Nghe An police and border guards arrested a subject illegally buying and selling drugs. The subject confessed to buying the above goods to transport to the South. Confiscated at the scene were 2kg of crystal meth, 2kg of ketamine, and 2 heroin cakes.

The amount of drugs the police seized in Dong's parents' garden.

The common feature of the above 3 cases is that the subjects all confessed to regularly colluding with Tran Van Dong to buy, sell, and transport goods everywhere.

Although his accomplices were arrested, Dong was a cunning person, only behind the scenes directing and operating all illegal drug trading activities, so proving the crime and arresting this subject encountered many difficulties. After each line was cut off, Tran Van Dong established a new line with more daring and sophisticated tricks.

Lieutenant Colonel Tran Dinh Vinh - Deputy Chief of Vinh City Police once said: "Through investigation, we proved that Tran Van Dong was the mastermind behind and operated this transnational drug ring. Dong is a reckless, daring "boss" with sophisticated transformations. After his close associates were arrested, Tran Van Dong also disappeared from the locality. However, all movements of the subject were closely monitored by drug detectives and the arrest plan was also detailed, waiting for the right time."

Based on the documents proving Dong's criminal acts, Nghe An police coordinated with professional units to find this notorious boss. At the end of July 2021, Nghe An Provincial Police Department issued a wanted notice for Tran Van Dong for illegal drug trafficking. However, at that time, Dong used every trick to escape to the Vietnam - Laos border area.

As for the "boss" Tran Van Dong, during his time in hiding, he created many new covers to fool the authorities. Taking advantage of the complex terrain of the Vietnam - Laos border area, Dong set up an "operation base" in the border area of ​​Thanh Thuy commune, Thanh Chuong district. At the same time, the authorities were focusing on fighting the Covid-19 epidemic, Tran Van Dong began to wander back to his hometown to "recruit" new "juniors" to serve his illegal drug trafficking activities.

Tran Van Dong was arrested when he returned to his hometown to try to set up a new drug ring.

Believing that the arrest of this “boss” would be the “opening button” for major drug cases that had been previously eradicated and the destruction of the headquarters of drug crimes in the area, Vinh City Police and Thanh Chuong District Police sent many reconnaissance lines to investigate, verify, and collect evidence about this dangerous subject. From the information reported from the base showing valuable information about the especially dangerous wanted subject Tran Van Dong, the task force sent many secret working groups to monitor all movements of the subject.

In early August, taking advantage of the influx of people returning home from the southern provinces to avoid the epidemic, Dong found a way to return to his hometown and set up a new drug ring to "recover" the lost capital. Although he had created a very careful cover, he could not fool the experienced drug detectives of Vinh City Police. The entire anti-drug force of the unit was deployed into the battle with the determination to "uproot" this transnational drug ring.

On the afternoon of August 6, 2021, Dong was taking the opportunity to visit his home, but all of his movements were closely monitored by the working groups. At about 4:30 p.m. the same day, when this "boss" had just left his home and went out onto the street in Thanh Long commune, the working groups of Vinh City Police and Thanh Chuong District Police coordinated with professional units to control and arrest him. At the scene, the police seized 1 package of heroin, 16 synthetic drug pills, 1 car and 4 cell phones.

Diary lines

Tran Van Dong grew up in a family with a "tradition" of drugs. Dong's father was a long-time addict, his brother had a criminal record, and his sister was currently serving a life sentence for drug trafficking. Dong himself was also an addict. Therefore, it seemed inevitable that he would "fall" into this path.

Tran Van Dong and his wife in his hometown.

Being addicted to drugs, afraid of getting his wife and children involved, Dong often wandered around, rarely staying at home. He loved his wife and children but could not stand being alone. Combined with his handsome appearance and ability to talk, Dong set up two "second rooms" in Ho Chi Minh City.

"When arresting Tran Van Dong, the investigation team seized many related documents, including a black notebook. Reading through the pages, it can be seen that there were times when Dong regretted and was tormented by his sins, and was in pain with the consequences he caused to his family, parents, wife and children, but did not have enough courage to face the law," said a detective.

There is a diary entry written on the day his father was arrested, which for Dong was "the most painful fall". It was from here that he realized more deeply the pain, humiliation, and loss that drugs caused to himself and his family. The pain of seeing his child "turn away from his father when he met him". The pain of a fallen boss when all his capital was invested in this shipment only to realize that there was not a single sincere person around him.

"Sitting in the dark night, I think about my family, my old parents, my beloved wife, my young child crying when I left. The more I think, the more my heart aches. I made mistakes in the past, so now I feel very remorseful and regretful, but I can't do anything...

Mom and Dad, I bow my head and apologize. My dear wife, I regret it so much. My dear child, please forgive me...", Dong poured out all his pain, anguish, and regret in his diary with crooked handwriting.

With such a "huge" amount of drugs, Dong's way back home has probably ended. The pain and late torment will make it difficult for this drug lord to atone for his mistakes with his wife, children, parents, and life...