Illegal logger arrested after 21 years of changing name to escape arrest
After many years of tracking the subject, the authorities arrested Nguyen Ngoc Ha while he was hiding locally.
Nguyen Ngoc Ha (born in 1975), with permanent residence in Kien Thanh commune, Tran Yen district, Yen Bai province, is a wanted subject according to wanted decision No. 12 dated July 15, 2002 of Bao Thang district police, Lao Cai for the crime of "Violation of regulations on forest exploitation and protection".
According to the case file, on May 15, 2002, Nguyen Ngoc Ha and 3 other subjects went to Lot 14, Sub-area 31, in the protective forest of Project Board 661 managed by Bao Thang District (now in Ban Cam Village, Ban Cam Commune, Bao Thang, Lao Cai) to exploit nghien wood. After exploiting some wood, they gathered at one location, camouflaged with dry branches and then returned home.
At around 5pm the next day, they continued to exploit. While cutting wood, the group was discovered and caught red-handed by the Ban Cam commune forest protection team. Taking advantage of the gap, Ha escaped, and the remaining subjects were arrested.
The appraisal results of the assets, which are ironwood trees that Ha and his accomplices exploited, were worth 72 million VND. Immediately after that, the Investigation Police Agency of Bao Thang District Police issued a decision to prosecute the case, prosecute the suspects in the case, and issue a wanted notice for Nguyen Ngoc Ha for the crime of "Violating regulations on forest exploitation and protection".
After fleeing the area, Ha changed his name to avoid being pursued by the police. The suspect fled at the age of 27, many of his physical features and identity had changed, making it difficult to verify, investigate, and capture him.
At around 2:40 p.m. on August 1, a working group from the Criminal Police Department of Bao Thang District Police (Lao Cai) discovered Nguyen Ngoc Ha hiding in Tran Yen District, Yen Bai Province, so they organized professional measures to arrest the subject. Afterwards, the working group transferred the subject to Bao Thang District Police, Lao Cai for further investigation and handling in accordance with the law.
