A plantation of 4,000 acacia trees was vandalized and cut down at the base by unknown perpetrators in Nghe An.

According to a report from the family of Mr. Phung Van Hue and Ms. Tran Thi Hoa (residing in Hamlet 4, Thanh Son Commune, Anh Son District), on the night of June 23rd, their acacia plantation, over a year old, located in Ke Gia Village, Thach Ngan Commune (Con Cuong District), was vandalized by thieves.

A one-year-old acacia plantation belonging to Mr. Phung Van Hue. Photo: Dao Tho

Mr. Phung Van Hue said that the vandalism of the acacia trees had been going on for about 20 days, but it was most severe on the night of June 23rd. Prior to that, he had bought B40 wire mesh to fence the area, but it was repeatedly cut by vandals. The healthy acacia trees were all cut down at the base and destroyed en masse.

“They used knives to cut half of the tree trunks. Just one strong gust of wind and the acacia trees would split in two and die. It's estimated that about 4,000 trees were cut down, causing my family over 60 million VND in losses,” Mr. Hue said.

Mr. Phung Van Hue stands before the acacia trees that have been cut down. Photo: Dao Tho

Ms. Tran Thi Hoa also added that her family had never had any conflicts with anyone here, so when their acacia plantation was cut down, they didn't know who to suspect.

Mr. Ngan Xuan Nhung, Chairman of the Thach Ngan Commune People's Committee, said that to date, the perpetrators who vandalized Mr. Phung Van Hue's acacia plantation have not been identified.

The acacia trees were cut down at the base; a single gust of wind could split them in two. Photo: Dao Tho

Regarding this matter, Mr. Vi Van Tuyen, the head of the Thach Ngan commune police, said that the case is currently being investigated by the commune police in coordination with the Con Cuong district police.

Dao Tho