Buying and selling laughing gas disguised as 'BL Cocktail and BL Cocktail Combo', illegally profiting hundreds of billions of dong
On the evening of July 31, the Ho Chi Minh City Police Investigation Agency announced that it had issued a Decision to initiate criminal proceedings, a Decision to prosecute the accused and an Arrest Warrant to temporarily detain 8 subjects to investigate the crime of "Trafficking in prohibited goods".
Previously, at around 1:00 p.m. on July 11, Team 6 of the Economic Police Department of Ho Chi Minh City Police coordinated with Ben Thanh Ward Police, Ho Chi Minh City to conduct an administrative inspection of the business household An Kim S Louge (commonly known as S Pub), address: 25-27-29 Bui Vien, Ben Thanh Ward, with Huynh Van Luc as the business registration certificate holder.
Through inspection, the authorities discovered that the location was illegally trading N₂O gas, confiscating hundreds of gas cylinders of various types, rubber balloons, specialized decanting tools, and many exhibits related to serving laughing gas to customers for on-site use.
During the investigation, the Investigation Police Agency determined: From May 2022 to August 2024, Huynh Van Luc and his accomplices rented the basement of the building at the address: 25-27-29 Bui Vien, Ben Thanh ward, opened the "S Pub" to operate food and beverage services and listen to music.
However, the business did not bring in any profit, so from September 2024 until now, Luc and his accomplices have started to switch to a combined business model of illegally selling N2O laughing gas in the form of laughing balloons for customers to come to the shop to inhale, listen to music, drink alcohol and beer to create a feeling of excitement for the purpose of making illegal profits.
The laughing gas trading activities are disguised as “BL Cocktails and BL Cocktail Combos” in the bar’s bill, with a professional service staff system, strictly assigned from filling, serving balloons, serving customers to recording revenue.
From September 2024 to present, it is estimated that the total amount of illegal profits from this activity is up to hundreds of billions of VND.
On July 28, the Ho Chi Minh City Police Investigation Agency (Economic Police Department) issued a Decision to prosecute a criminal case, a Decision to prosecute the accused and an Arrest Warrant to detain 8 subjects, including: Huynh Van Luc (born in 2005, permanent residence in Cho Vam commune, An Giang province); Nguyen Van Duong (born in 1986, permanent residence in Tran Van Thoi commune, Ca Mau province); Le Thi Day (born in 1990, permanent residence in Da Bac commune, Ca Mau province); Nguyen Mai Bao Ngoc (born in 2009, permanent residence in Xom Chieu ward, Ho Chi Minh City); Tran Thuy Duong (born in 2001, permanent residence in An Phu ward, Ho Chi Minh City); Tang Kim Ngan (born in 2006, permanent residence in Lap Vo commune, Dong Thap province); Tran Thi My Xuyen (born in 2006, permanent residence in My An Hung commune, Dong Thap province); Le Trieu Hoang (born 2006, permanent residence in Buon Ma Thuot ward, Dak Lak province).
Currently, the Ho Chi Minh City Police Department is continuing to expand the investigation and pursue other related subjects in the ring, to strictly handle them according to the law.
