Gun trafficking 'boss' arrested

Vu Thi Diep when arrested. Photo:Lan Vy

On October 21, Diep (in Cu Chi district, Ho Chi Minh City) along with Dang Quoc Anh, Dang Quoc Huan, and Dang Van Tinh (25-28 years old, all from Phu Yen) were extradited to Kien Giang to investigate their behavior.Illegal possession and trading of military weapons and support tools.

The move was made by the authorities in the process of expanding the investigation into a particularly large gun trafficking ring run by Duong Minh Tuan, 30 years old, and 11 accomplices. When arresting the group, the police seized 84 guns, more than 300 bullets, and a series of machines for manufacturing and modifying guns.

The investigation agency discovered that Vu Thi Diep and her juniors had many transactions to buy and sell weapons and support tools with Tuan's group. This woman was an important contact, specializing in buying, selling, and transporting guns and support tools in large quantities, and had a warehouse to hide "hot goods".

In 2019, Diep and his wife were punished by the People's Court of Cu Chi district for the crime.Illegal trading of weapons and support tools,In which Diep was sentenced to 3 years in prison but the sentence was temporarily suspended because she was raising a child under 36 months old. However, during her time on bail, this woman continued to connect with old contacts to organize the purchase of weapons and support tools from Thailand to Vietnam. The "goods" were divided by Diep, delivered to agents nationwide to sell on social networks, illegally earning billions of dong.

Dang Quoc Anh, Dang Van Tinh and Dang Quoc Huan. Photo:Lan Vy

On October 13, Diep directed Dang Van Tinh (in Binh Duong) to receive 3 boxes containing 63 guns from the warehouse, bring them to the Eastern bus station and send them to Nha Trang city (Khanh Hoa province) for "Central dealer" Dang Quoc Huan to sell. All actions of this group were monitored by the police.

Two days later, Kien Giang police coordinated with the Criminal Police Department (C02, Ministry of Public Security) and Binh Duong police to raid the motel, arrest Tinh, and seize two guns and many related exhibits.

On October 16, police arrested Dang Quoc Huan and his brother Dang Quoc Anh at an apartment in Nha Trang. Searching a warehouse in Phuoc Long ward, the task force seized 229 pistols, revolvers (it is not yet determined whether they are military weapons) and guns that shoot ball and rubber bullets; 455 compressed gas cylinders; 6 kg of iron ball bullets; many gun components and related objects and documents.

Among the 229 guns seized by the police, there were 64 revolvers. Photo:Lan Vy

The case continues to be investigated.

Lan Vy