Preventing violations of firework laws early and proactively.

Sophisticated tactics, online transactions.

As a province with a large area, a large population, a 468.281km long land border with three provinces (Hua Phan, Xieng Khouang, and Bolikhamsai) of neighboring Laos, and 82km of coastline, the fight against violations of the law regarding fireworks in Nghe An province faces many difficulties.

Over the past period, along with strengthening propaganda efforts, functional agencies have coordinated with local authorities to closely monitor the area and implement many comprehensive solutions to combat the illegal buying, selling, transporting, storing, and using of fireworks.

Typically, through intelligence gathering, the Do Luong District Police discovered a ring involved in the illegal trading of various types of firecrackers in the area and established a special case to combat it.

During the investigation, the task force encountered many difficulties because the suspects operated very cleverly, frequently changing phone numbers, locations, and delivery methods to avoid detection by authorities.

However, through professional investigative measures, on February 4, 2024, the Do Luong District Police arrested two individuals, Phan Thi Hue (born in 1980) and Phan Thi Thu Huong (born in 1984), both residing in Trung Son commune, Do Luong district, for trading in prohibited goods, seizing nearly 130 kg of firecrackers.

Subsequently, on May 25, 2024, in Hamlet 5, Thanh Ha Commune, Thanh Chuong District, the Anti-Corruption, Economic Crime and Smuggling Investigation Police Department (Provincial Police) coordinated with the Thanh Chuong District Police to apprehend Tran Dai Sy (born in 1987), residing in Thanh Ha Commune, for the act of producing and trading prohibited goods.

The seized items included 70 firework mortars (36-shot type) of foreign origin, with a total weight of 100kg; 20 sticks of dynamite weighing 4kg, 40 detonators, and 1 car.

According to authorities, despite knowing that fireworks are prohibited from circulation and trade and that the law imposes severe penalties, some individuals still find ways to secretly buy, sell, transport, and store them due to high profits.

The methods used in the illegal fireworks trade are very sophisticated, with transactions mainly taking place online. Criminals (primarily ringleaders and large-scale fireworks dealers) often begin preparing for the purchase and transportation very early (at the beginning or middle of the year), then divide the fireworks into smaller quantities for sale at the end of the year to supply consumers during holidays and Tet (Lunar New Year).

Some individuals collude with local people who are doing business abroad, ordering large quantities of fireworks through social media and transporting them via unofficial channels to be stockpiled in the area for sale. Alternatively, they connect with people in other provinces to purchase smuggled fireworks from abroad and bring them into Nghe An for sale.

For example, recently (October 17-20, 2024), the Criminal Police Department (Provincial Police) coordinated with relevant units to successfully dismantle a ring involved in the buying, selling, and storing of 230 kg of smuggled fireworks from abroad into Nghe An, arresting the suspects.

Accordingly, Dang Duc Phuong (born in 1983), residing in Vinh Tan ward, Vinh city, a truck driver on the North-South route, colluded with another driver, Le Van Duan (born in 1988), residing in Binh Phuoc province, to purchase a large quantity of smuggled fireworks from Cambodia and store them at Phuong's private residence in Vinh city.

Subsequently, Phuong handed over the fireworks to Nguyen Quang Nam (born in 1973), residing in Nghi Long commune, Nghi Loc district, who acted as the main distributor and was responsible for distributing the fireworks. Expanding the investigation, the Criminal Police Department arrested five more individuals involved in the ring that traded, stored, and transported explosive fireworks from abroad to Nghe An, led by Duan, Phuong, and Nam.

In addition, there are cases of people making their own firecrackers and using illegal fireworks, mainly among teenagers, posing many potential risks to security and public order.

A recent example occurred on Facebook, where at approximately 12:30 PM on October 12, 2024, the Hoang Mai Town Police discovered that firecrackers were being set off during a wedding celebration at the home of Nguyen Dinh Luong (born in 1971), residing in Quynh Xuan Ward, Hoang Mai Town.

Immediately after discovering the incident, the Hoang Mai Town Police quickly dispatched forces to investigate and verify the facts. Through this investigation, they identified five individuals involved: Nguyen Dinh Truong (born 1994), Vu Minh Thoai (born 1989), Vu Van Vinh (born 1988), Luu Van Quynh (born 2006), all residing in Quynh Xuan Ward, Hoang Mai Town, and Vo Van Hau (born 1986), residing in Hoi Son Commune, Anh Son District.

The Hoang Mai Town Police Investigation Agency has issued a decision to temporarily detain the five aforementioned individuals on charges of "disturbing public order"; simultaneously, they are consolidating files and documents to proceed with the prosecution of the case and the defendants in order to deter and prevent similar offenses in the future.

Early and proactive prevention

To prevent and combat violations of the law on fireworks, especially before, during, and after the Lunar New Year of the Year of the Snake 2025, the People's Committee of Nghe An province issued Plan No. 742/KH-UBND dated September 30, 2024, requiring relevant departments and localities to proactively implement solutions early, synchronously, and decisively, mobilizing the strength of the entire political system and the whole population to participate in preventing, detecting, combating, stopping, and strictly handling acts of smuggling, producing, trading, transporting, storing, and using fireworks illegally.

In particular, attention should be paid to key routes (coastal routes including Quynh Luu, Dien Chau, Nghi Loc districts, Cua Lo town and Hoang Mai town; road routes including National Highways 1A, 7A, 7B, 46, 46B, 48, 48B, 15A and the Ho Chi Minh Highway; border routes including Nam Can International Border Gate (Ky Son), Thanh Thuy Border Gate (Thanh Chuong), and small border crossings; and railway lines through Nghe An province).

The Provincial People's Committee also requested relevant agencies to closely monitor and manage suspected individuals, those with previous convictions or criminal records related to smuggling, manufacturing, trading, storing, transporting, and illegally using firecrackers; young people, students, and university students showing signs of illegally storing or using firecrackers and materials for manufacturing them; vehicle owners and drivers on land and water with the means, ability, or suspicious behavior, especially those frequently crossing border areas and seaports, and long-distance bus drivers; and online groups, accounts, and e-commerce websites that show signs of instructing on the illegal manufacture, production, and sale of firecrackers, gunpowder, and materials for manufacturing them…

Simultaneously, inter-agency inspection teams will be established to coordinate administrative inspections of shopping centers, markets, businesses dealing in chemicals and precursors, and collection points at bus stations, train stations, seaports, and estuaries... in order to detect, seize, and strictly handle violators in accordance with the law.

The Provincial People's Committee requests that all levels and sectors innovate the content and diversify the forms of propaganda and dissemination of legal regulations regarding the use of fireworks by citizens manufactured by Company Z121, Ministry of National Defense.

This includes focusing on increasing the amount of time spent on public awareness campaigns through mass media, social networks, websites, and fan pages of various sectors, levels of government, and local authorities, combined with mobile awareness campaigns in key areas. Simultaneously, 100% of representatives from households, schools, and students will sign commitments to voluntarily comply with the law prohibiting the production, import, sale, storage, transportation, and illegal use of firecrackers and materials for manufacturing them.

Along with clearly assigning tasks and specific responsibilities to the heads of Party committees, governments at all levels, and heads of departments and functional agencies in the province in the work of preventing and combating firecrackers, Plan No. 742/KH-UBND of the Provincial People's Committee also emphasizes the need to "Review and compile a list of violations to proactively educate, deter, and prevent repeat violations. Publicly announce cases of firecracker violations to schools, agencies, workplaces, local authorities, and mass media as prescribed by law."

In addition, based on recent cases of violations of the law related to firecrackers, the authorities also advise: Government Decree 137/2020/ND-CP allows citizens to set off fireworks, but only organizations and businesses under the Ministry of National Defense are permitted to trade in fireworks.

The decree completely prohibits individuals from using explosive fireworks; if people intentionally use, trade, possess, or transport explosive fireworks, they will be subject to administrative penalties or criminal prosecution.

Therefore, citizens need to strictly abide by the law and not participate in or abet any illegal activities related to fireworks.