Authorities discover large-scale smuggling of air guns into Vietnam.

On the morning of July 11th, the Border Guard of Ba Ria-Vung Tau province interrogated the crew members of the Hai Phong 05 vessel, belonging to Hai Phong Trade and Transport Company Limited (HAIPHONGTRACO), who were involved in the smuggling of 23 air rifles from abroad into Vietnam, which was seized by the Border Guard on the night of July 10th. They also prepared for the procedures to search the vessel.

Illustrative image. (Source: VNA)

This is the largest case of air gun smuggling from abroad into Vung Tau city ever discovered and seized by the provincial Border Guard.

Initial investigations revealed that six sailors were involved in the arms smuggling operation: Dao Van Dat (born in 1986 in Hai Quang, Hai Hau, Nam Dinh), Pham Van Duy (born in 1967 in Trai Chuoi, Hai Phong), Dang Van Nam (born in 1974 in Ngu Loc, Hau Loc, Thanh Hoa), Nguyen Van Dao (born in 1985 in Hoa Tien, Hung Ha, Thai Binh), Ly Nhat Thuan (born in 1984 in Tan Duong, Dinh Hao, Thai Nguyen), and Tran Xuan Thanh (born in 1976 in Thach My, Loc Ha, Ha Tinh).

The suspects confessed to buying 23 air rifles from Indonesia, with the highest purchase being 7 and the lowest being 2, intending to bring them to Vietnam for resale. The purchase of the guns from Indonesia had taken place some time ago, but they hadn't yet found an opportunity to transport them ashore for sale. In addition to the six suspects, a female suspect, Vo Thi Loan (born in 1992, residing in Nhon Son, Ninh Son, Ninh Thuan), was also involved.

Earlier, at around 8 PM on July 10th, in the Sao Mai coastal area (Ward 5, Vung Tau City), the anti-drug forces of the Provincial Border Guard discovered several individuals transporting suspicious goods (upon inspection, 23 air rifles) from a small boat at sea to a Petrol Taxi with license plate 30V-2354.

Upon spotting the Border Guard forces, the two suspects, Dat and Duy, along with Loan (who had traveled by taxi from Ho Chi Minh City), got into the taxi and fled. After a chase of over 1km, the provincial Border Guard managed to stop the taxi, but because only one soldier (who was in a parked car outside) was pursuing them, Dat and Duy opened the doors and escaped under the cover of darkness.

Through questioning Loan, the Provincial Border Guard identified the two escaped suspects as Dat and Duy, sailors on the Hai Phong 05 vessel (captained by Thai Thanh Quy) anchored at the PTSC Oil and Gas Service Port (Vung Tau City). That same night, the Provincial Border Guard organized a raid and apprehended the two suspects on board the Hai Phong 05. Further investigation revealed the involvement of four other sailors on the Hai Phong 05 in the smuggling operation. The Provincial Border Guard has temporarily detained the Hai Phong 05 vessel for further investigation.

The Hai Phong 05 vessel, transporting steel pipes for the oil and gas industry, was en route from Malaysia to Vung Tau city and docked at the PTSC Oil and Gas Service Port at 6 PM on July 10th. On the afternoon of July 11th, the Provincial Border Guard will conduct a search of the Hai Phong 05 vessel to continue the investigation and expand the case.

According to (VNA) - LT