Authorities uncover a network specializing in the distribution of counterfeit gold.

Before being imported from China, the counterfeit gold was "magically" manipulated by the perpetrators to disable testing machines and even the most experienced jewelers.

On November 10th, the Investigation Department of the Ha Long City Police, Quang Ninh province, confirmed that they had uncovered clues to a ring specializing in selling counterfeit gold, operating in several northern provinces and cities. Initially, the police questioned suspects Hoang Huu Thanh, 31 years old, residing in Kim Bang district, Ha Nam province; and his cousin, Nguyen Xuan Luyen. Both confessed to their involvement – ​​being the masterminds behind a scheme involving two Chinese accomplices.

Counterfeit gold was seized by authorities.

According to the investigating agency, on the morning of October 28, Hoang Huu Thanh brought raw gold to a gold shop in Zone 6, Gieng Day Ward, Ha Long City. The raw gold, weighing approximately 3 taels (a unit of weight for gold), was offered for sale at 115 million VND. Noticing suspicious signs, the shop owner tried to detain the suspect and informed the police. Thanh confessed that the gold was fake and that his cousin, Nguyen Xuan Luyen, had given it to him to sell. Immediately afterward, Luyen was summoned. The fake gold was seized by the authorities.

At the investigative agency, Luyen confessed that the person who supplied him with the gold was A Xeng, a Chinese national whom Luyen met while working at an industrial park in Duy Tien district, Ha Nam province. Xeng persuaded Luyen to sell the gold he had brought back from Hong Kong (China), promising him a large sum of money if he succeeded.

On October 15th, Luyen and Xeng met in Mong Cai, Quang Ninh, to see another Chinese man named A Cua (approximately 30 years old). A Cua gave Luyen a piece of raw gold for him to sell immediately in Mong Cai City. For this transaction, Luyen was paid 240,000 dong.

On the afternoon of October 20th, Cua gave Luyen three gold bars, which Luyen sold in Hai Phong for nearly 460 million VND, receiving a commission of 7 million VND. Five days later, Luyen invited Hoang Huu Thanh to Mong Cai to meet Cua and receive two more gold bars, which they sold in Ha Long City for a total of 310 million VND. On October 26th, the distribution area for the counterfeit gold expanded to Hanoi. One gold bar was successfully sold for nearly 200 million VND. On October 27th, Luyen and Thanh successfully sold another fake gold bar for 105 million VND in Gieng Day Ward, Ha Long City.

According to authorities, the counterfeit gold was created by mixing "unusual" chemicals into it so that when tested by a machine, it would still show a purity level of over 99%. The case is still under further investigation.

According to King Zhou