Nghe An: 'Cut down to the roots' dangerous criminal gangs

Many notorious gangs

In Nghe An, many people were terrified when mentioning the notorious "black society" gangs led by many influential people. According to the Criminal Police Department of the Provincial Police, these gangs mainly committed crimes in the fields of intentional injury; disturbing public order, extortion, theft, protection, robbery, loan sharking, debt collection, territorial disputes, and mutual settlements. The criminal activities have shown violent, hooligan, aggressive nature, and profit-seeking purposes.

Vinh City residents certainly have not forgotten the recklessness and daring of the HC gang. This is a dangerous criminal gang, gathering under the command of subjects with many criminal records, specializing in protection rackets, extortion, disturbing public order, and intentional destruction of property; Or the gang led by Nguyen Tat Thang (born in 1990, residing in Cua Nam ward, Vinh City) and Le Van Linh (aka Linh "black", born in 1971, residing in Hung Hoa commune, Vinh City) specializes in forcing passengers not to get on the bus, if they get on, they will beat and drag them off.

Nguyen Van Vuong, the leader of a loan shark gang, was arrested by the police. File photo

According to Nghe An Provincial Police, from 2014 to now, the unit has fought and eliminated 39 organized crime gangs with 289 subjects. Currently, Nghe An still has 8 gangs with 96 criminal subjects operating in an organized manner. These gangs and groups mainly gather a number of subjects who have had previous relationships with each other, some of whom have criminal records.

In fact, criminal activities in the province have become more complicated in recent times. It can be seen that the initial cause is that these subjects themselves have a lavish, decadent lifestyle, are lazy to work, and are accustomed to a life of enjoyment. In addition, the system of legal documents in the fight against crime in general and organized crime in particular still has many shortcomings, and social inspection and supervision work is still lax.

“Regulations on psychiatric assessment are not strict and still have loopholes, especially for some crimes prosecuted at the request of the victim, when gangs cause settlements, stabbings, revenge, and intimidation of the victim. The perpetrators have influenced and coerced; in some cases, the perpetrators have threatened, bribed, and controlled the victim, forcing the victim to write a complaint, not to report, causing the victim to refuse to have their injuries assessed…”, Nghe An police pointed out the difficulties in the fight against organized crime.

Evidence in the gambling case led by Binh that the police seized. Photo: Archive

“Cut the branches… cut the roots”

Through research on 39 gangs and groups that were destroyed in Nghe An recently, Nghe An Police assessed that most of the subjects were young. The subjects participating in organized crime all had criminal records, or were professional. Some subjects participating in organized crime were deceived, enticed, bribed... and often played an unimportant role in criminal organizations.

According to an investigator, most gangs want money to have fun, spend money or to resolve personal conflicts, so they discuss with each other to commit a number of crimes such as theft, robbery, snatching, murder, intentional injury, etc.

Although the situation is considered complicated, it can be said that the security and order situation in the province is still stable. Because the gangs and groups that are operating have been put under management by the police force, regularly monitoring the situation and developments of criminal activities to promptly take preventive measures, fight and investigate to clarify.

3 subjects were arrested by Thai Hoa Town Police for loan sharking. Photo: Q. T

According to the leader of the Criminal Police Department, police of units and localities regularly call, question, and warn subjects in criminal gangs, clearly understand the characteristics, personal background, background, relationships, and operating rules of these subjects to have appropriate prevention and combat plans.

It is a fact that the crime rate related to intentional injury, murder, robbery, usury in civil transactions, human trafficking... is still high. In the first 6 months of 2019, the whole province had 458 cases, of which more than 30% were related to the above crimes.

There have been a number of cases in which groups of people used weapons to commit crimes, such as the case of two groups of young people using knives and swords to resolve conflicts in Ma Thanh commune, Yen Thanh district, killing one person; two groups of people using guns to resolve conflicts at Thanh Chuong chicken restaurant (Vinh city), injuring two people; the case of a group of 11 people blocking a car to rob property in Hoang Mai town; a group of 4 people extorting property from long-distance passenger buses in Nghi Loc, etc.

Nghe An Police affirmed that in the coming time, the Police Department will determine that the strong fight to disintegrate gangs will be carried out resolutely. For cases caused by members of organized crime gangs, especially the ringleaders, a special investigation team will be established to strictly handle them. Thereby, contributing to disintegrating gangs and criminal groups, ensuring a peaceful life for the people.