Preventing extortion on passenger buses.

(Baonghean) - Special Case 115BK, aimed at dismantling a protection racket in the passenger transport sector, was established by the Vinh City Police in January 2015. On June 24, 2015, the Vinh City Police Investigation Department concluded its investigation and transferred the file to the City People's Procuracy, requesting the indictment of the individuals involved. However, Special Case 115BK is determined to be far from over...

Bus stops and parking areas in Vinh City have returned to normalcy.

From the beginning of January 2015, the Vinh City Police received information from the public reporting that at several bus stops, a number of menacing-looking individuals with tattoos, bizarre clothing, and dark sunglasses were frequently seen arguing with passenger buses attempting to pick up passengers; they also tried to prevent passengers from boarding. A few days later, the Vinh City Police received further complaints from nearly 100 bus owners, mainly operating on the Vinh - Hoang Mai and Vinh - Yen Thanh routes, alleging that they and their drivers had been frequently threatened by individuals matching the public's descriptions when passing through these bus stops.

Recognizing the complexity of the case, especially with the 2015 Lunar New Year approaching, and the potential for security and public order disruption in the area if not promptly investigated and clarified, the city's police leadership directed the Criminal Investigation Team to establish Special Case 115BK (headed directly by Colonel Mai Chien Thang) to dismantle the criminal gang suspected of extorting money in the passenger transport sector. Upon receiving the assignment, the Criminal Investigation Team quickly developed a detailed plan for investigation and verification, and screened suspicious individuals. To carry out the investigation, the Criminal Investigation Team deployed all its officers and soldiers to closely monitor key areas. The most experienced investigators and detectives were assigned to conduct covert surveillance at locations where passenger buses frequently stop to pick up passengers. Simultaneously, they infiltrated the public to gather information... Through this, they quickly identified 6 stopping points (from Phuong Dong Hotel to Quan Bau Junction) where the incidents reported by bus owners and the public frequently occurred.

At 10:30 AM on January 30, 2015, recognizing that the time was ripe, the Criminal Police Team reported to the city's police leadership and mobilized 40 officers and soldiers from the entire team, divided into 5 groups, to simultaneously arrest 9 suspects at the identified bus stops. After screening, a decision was made to temporarily detain 5 suspects: Nguyen Tat Hoang (born 1990), residing in Block 4, Cua Nam Ward; Pham Van Tam (born 1985), residing in Block 4, Cua Nam Ward; Dinh Van Duan (born 1990), residing in Phong Thuan 1 Hamlet, Hung Hoa Commune; Le Dai Tai (born 1996), residing in Phong Thuan 1 Hamlet, Hung Hoa Commune; and Ho Minh Thoan (born 1991), residing in Phong Thuan 2 Hamlet, Hung Hoa Commune. Among the 5 detained suspects, Dinh Van Duan had a prior conviction for intentional infliction of injury. Ho Minh Thoan has a prior conviction for robbery.

Through interrogation of the detained individuals, they confessed to the illegal acts they had committed as reported by the vehicle owners and drivers, and also revealed the identities of those behind the operation. Based on this information, on February 5, 2015, the Vinh City Police arrested Le Van Linh (born in 1971), residing in Block 16, Le Loi Ward (who had two prior convictions for gambling and one prior offense for intentional infliction of injury), while he was hiding in a hotel in the city. On April 18, 2015, Nguyen Tat Thang (born in 1990), residing in Block 4, Le Loi Ward, was arrested (he has a prior conviction for extortion); on May 3, 2015, Vuong Kha Thong (born in 1973), residing in Block 11, Le Loi Ward, was also arrested. All three, Le Van Linh, Nguyen Tat Thang, and Vuong Kha Thong, were arrested on charges of disturbing public order.

The members of the gang threatened and harassed the vehicle owner and bus driver.

Based on the investigation and verification, the Vinh City Police determined that Nguyen Tat Thang was the ringleader of the group. Nguyen Tat Thang had previously worked as a "broker" for passenger buses at Vinh Bus Station. During his time there, he developed relationships with several bus companies, which led him to the idea of ​​hiring individuals for a "salary" of 3-4 million VND per month to harass and threaten bus owners and drivers who intended to pick up passengers at bus stops. These actions were aimed at benefiting the bus owners with whom Nguyen Tat Thang had connections.

According to investigators from the Criminal Police Team of Vinh City Police, after a period of investigation clarifying the illegal activities of the detained individuals, on June 24, 2015, the Deputy Head of the Criminal Investigation Department of Vinh City Police, Colonel Mai Chien Thang, issued the conclusion of the investigation for Case 115BK; and simultaneously transferred the file to the People's Procuracy of Vinh City, requesting that this agency issue a decision to prosecute the above individuals for the crime of disturbing public order.

Since the Criminal Police Team of Vinh City Police simultaneously arrested individuals who threatened and harassed bus owners and drivers, bus stops in Vinh City have become stable and orderly. Through this incident, city residents, passengers, bus owners, and drivers all highly appreciate the spirit and responsibility of the police officers. However, the Vinh City Police are continuing to investigate Case 115BK. According to Colonel Mai Chien Thang, the phenomenon of touting and soliciting passengers has existed at Vinh Bus Station for quite some time, but only after the actions of the gang led by Nguyen Tat Thang were clarified did it become clear that protection rackets were beginning to emerge in the passenger transport sector in Vinh City. Combating this type of crime is extremely complex due to the lack of cooperation from relevant parties, especially bus companies. The Vinh City Police Department has determined that clarifying the illegal activities of the arrested individuals is only the tip of the iceberg; therefore, based on the results obtained so far, they will continue to expand the investigation, determined to bring to light those still lurking in the shadows to bring peace to the city.

Ha Giang