Key takeaways from Case 312M
(Baonghean.vn)As previously reported: On March 30, 2012, the Nghe An Provincial Police's Drug Crime Investigation Department, in coordination with Department 4 of the Ministry of Public Security's Drug Bureau, the Technical and Operational Department, and the Vinh City Police, successfully dismantled drug trafficking ring 312M in Vinh City. According to authorities, this was a particularly significant case, dismantling a large-scale illegal methamphetamine production and trafficking ring, with the largest seizures ever recorded nationwide.
After their arrest, at the police station, the suspects Le Thanh Hai, Tang Thi Lan Phuong, Le Thanh Minh, and Tran Thi Nga confessed to their crimes.
Le Thanh Hai and his accomplices repeatedly manufactured methamphetamine, supplying it to individuals in Vinh City and other provinces. Hai spent a long time living in Eastern European countries, including six years in prison. Le Thanh Hai dedicated considerable time to researching and practicing methamphetamine production. According to Hai's testimony, all production steps and formulas were memorized due to his continuous experience in drug manufacturing.
In 2001, Hai returned to Vietnam and subsequently began producing and trafficking drugs. With the cooperation of his girlfriend, Tang Thi Lan Phuong, and his parents, Hai professionally and continuously produced methamphetamine, with a batch every 2-3 weeks. Hai's skill and recklessness in the production process were evident in his construction of the production furnace next to the kitchen and dining room, disregarding the fact that production required the use of many dangerous and toxic precursors and chemicals, even those with the potential for fire and explosions. He even stored some of the acids used for distilling methamphetamine in the refrigerator used for food preservation.
Le Thanh Hai's methamphetamine production involved coordinated efforts among family members at four different locations, each performing a different stage of the process. At the house in the Vinh Tan new urban area, Hai carried out the raw extraction. At house number 1, Nguyen Canh Chan Street – where his parents lived – Hai performed the chemical separation and extraction. Finally, at house number 98, Van Duc Giai Street, Hung Binh Ward, where Hai and his girlfriend rented a room, Hai performed the final stage: drying.
For his actions over the past period, Hai has been regarded by drug dealers as experienced and meticulous; at the same time, he is hailed as a "wizard" by methamphetamine users.
The success of Special Case 312M is the result of the flexible and creative coordination of the forces involved in solving the case. Regarding the special aspects of the case, Colonel Nguyen Xuan Thiem - Head of the Narcotics Crime Investigation Department of the Nghe An Provincial Police, and Head of the Special Case Team, said: "The special thing about the case is that over a very long period of time, the investigation process involved dozens of officers from many coordinating forces, yet still ensured secrecy and surprise. In addition, the Special Case Team chose the time to simultaneously arrest and search four locations, resulting in the discovery of 1.2 kg of freshly produced methamphetamine, more than 30 cans of 10 liters and 20 liters containing various highly toxic chemicals and precursors used in the production of methamphetamine. Besides the 1.2 kg of finished product, there were also 8 cans of semi-finished methamphetamine prepared for the next batch…"
According to the members of the special task force, the successful implementation of Special Case 312M has opened up several new solutions in the fight against drug crimes with new methods in Nghe An province. Colonel Nguyen Xuan Thiem emphasized: “It must be said that to fight this special case, there were days when we had to hold case meetings up to three times to change methods and investigation techniques to avoid leaks. This was the most difficult problem, but we overcame it. This special case also confirms that this is not just one criminal group, but could be the beginnings of many other organizations, giving law enforcement agencies a good direction for the future in crime prevention and suppression.”
Huong Giang (Nghe An Police)
