Tighten control over weapons, explosives, and supporting tools.

The situation is complex.

One day in late October 2018, Hoang Khac Hieu (born 1990, residing in Quang Trung Ward, Vinh City) was eating with a group of friends at a restaurant on Le Nin Boulevard when Nguyen Gia Dinh (born 1992, residing in Vinh Tan Ward, Vinh City) entered and started an argument, leading to a fight. Seeing Hieu being attacked, the group at the table all stood up and grabbed chairs to chase after Dinh. Hieu pulled out a gun and shot Dinh once in the stomach. At this point, a group of Dinh's men, armed with weapons, chased after Hieu. After running a short distance, Hieu turned back and fired a shot, hitting Ngoc Anh in the shoulder. The shootout resulted in two injuries, and Hieu and his accomplices were arrested by the police and charged with murder.

Evidence seized in the case. Photo: internet

The use of firearms and explosives to settle disputes among gangsters in Nghe An province is not uncommon. According to the Nghe An Provincial Police, from October 2017 to September 2018, 67 incidents involving 77 individuals using weapons and explosives occurred throughout the province. The nature of these cases is becoming increasingly complex, and the perpetrators are becoming more reckless, disregarding the law and the lives of citizens. For example, recently in Block 10, Ben Thuy Ward (Vinh City), residents playing volleyball spotted two individuals on a motorbike carrying dog-catching equipment and a sack suspected of containing dogs. When residents tried to apprehend them, the two individuals turned around and fired a gun and threw a homemade bomb at the residents, injuring a man in the leg. The two perpetrators then fled. This incident caused widespread fear and anxiety among the residents.

The Nghi Loc District Police destroyed the seized firearms and supporting equipment.

Notably, there has recently been a surge in the buying and selling of components and assembly instructions for various weapons, explosives, and supporting tools, especially air guns, on social media. Following monitoring, the Provincial Police have discovered, prevented, and handled 11 cases involving 13 individuals engaged in the buying and selling of components for assembling various types of guns. On March 30, 2018, the Thanh Chuong District Police apprehended Vo Dinh Thuong (born in 1992, residing in Thi Tu village, Thanh Thuy commune, Thanh Chuong district) for illegally possessing weapons; the seized evidence included two homemade guns. During an emergency search of the suspect's residence, authorities seized items used in the manufacture of homemade guns, including: a grinding machine, files, wrenches, motorcycle brake springs, steel gun molds, and perforated steel plates. The Forensic Technical Department of the Nghe An Provincial Police concluded that the two homemade guns seized from the suspect were "guns with features and functions similar to military weapons." Vo Dinh Thuong confessed to purchasing the above items himself, researching information on social media to manufacture the guns, each of which he sold for 3 million VND.

Over the 7 years (from 2011 - 2017), tThrough the investigation of these cases, law enforcement agencies seized 40 military firearms, 384 homemade firearms, 250 grenades, 4,348 rounds of ammunition, 4,823 kg of explosives, 2,950 kg of explosive precursors, and 21,456 detonators. They initiated investigations into 670 cases involving 905 defendants for illegal trading, transporting, storing, and using weapons, explosives, and supporting tools.

Currently, the number of firearms, especially guns, in the hands of civilians remains very large. Many weapons, bombs, and mines left over from the war are still being found or unearthed by the public, who do not voluntarily surrender them. A segment of the population in border areas and remote regions still uses weapons and explosives for hunting wild animals and fishing, posing significant risks to public order and security. Furthermore, the buying, selling, transporting, storing, and using of fireworks is on the rise, especially during the Lunar New Year.

Tam Quang Border Guard Station receives weapons surrendered by local residents. Photo: Phuong Linh

According to the leaders of the Nghe An Provincial Police, although a large quantity of weapons and explosives have been surrendered by the public and seized by law enforcement agencies in recent times, the management of weapons and explosives in the province still faces many difficulties. In particular, the smuggling of drugs from abroad into the area, and the tendency of criminals to arm themselves with military weapons to facilitate the illegal transportation and sale of narcotics, are significant challenges. They are ready to resist law enforcement when detected and apprehended.

Strengthen propaganda efforts.

It can be said that, in addition to inspection, detection, and seizure measures, the most effective method remains the public awareness campaign encouraging people to voluntarily surrender weapons and explosives.

The police in Do Luong district are urging people to surrender their weapons.

Over the past period, the Do Luong District Police have regularly directed their operational teams to closely coordinate with relevant agencies and departments to maintain and establish working groups at the grassroots level to carry out the work of mobilizing the recovery of illegal weapons and explosives, distributing complaint forms to citizens, and regularly collecting information from the public to identify individuals involved in the illegal trading, production, storage, and use of weapons and explosives. Through propaganda measures, the police force has recovered 182 homemade air-powered BB guns, 1 military rifle, 46 knives, and 35 swords.

Over a period of 7 years (from 2011 to 2017), authorities encouraged the public to surrender 142 military firearms, 302 sporting rifles, 13,977 homemade guns, 221 bombs, 151 grenades, 60 landmines, 518 artillery shells, 22,314 rounds of ammunition of various types, 252.1 kg of explosives, 843 detonators, 853 meters of slow-burning fuse, 380 supporting tools, 5,465 knives and swords, and 850 prohibited dangerous toys. Authorities also discovered and confiscated 85 military firearms, 125 sporting rifles, 567 homemade guns, 60 grenades, 7,245 bullets, 145 kg of air gun ammunition, 1,270 kg of explosives, 1,119 kg of detonators, and 6,678 meters of slow-burning fuse...

With the motto of staying close to the grassroots, gaining the people's trust and understanding, grasping their thoughts and aspirations, and primarily using propaganda, mobilization, and persuasion, the Dien Chau District Police have, in coordination with local authorities and various departments and organizations, integrated the dissemination of information and the recovery of weapons and explosives through various activities such as: village meetings, self-governing group meetings, youth union activities, and leveraging influential figures in families to spread awareness and create positive changes in the consciousness of each citizen. From 2012 to the present, the Dien Chau District Police force has disseminated information and mobilized people to surrender 24 detonators, 2 grenades, 5 homemade mines, and 140 firearms of various types...

It can be said that the comprehensive inspections and campaigns to encourage the public to surrender weapons, explosives, and supporting tools, carried out by the police in coordination with other units, have shown outstanding results. According to the provincial police leadership, in addition to encouraging people to voluntarily surrender weapons, the provincial police also coordinated with agencies to inspect units, organizations, and businesses authorized to equip and use weapons and explosives to promptly detect and rectify errors. At the same time, working groups were established to go to local areas to coordinate propaganda, guide the recovery and prevention of, and combat violations related to weapons, explosives, and fireworks before, during, and after the Lunar New Year.

Weapons voluntarily surrendered by citizens.

Towards the end of the year, the situation regarding individuals exploiting loopholes to stockpile and trade weapons, explosives, and supporting tools will become even more complex. The Nghe An Provincial Police are continuing to coordinate with relevant agencies to strengthen inspections, proactively detect, and strictly handle individuals who violate regulations on the management and use of weapons and explosives in the area. In addition, it is necessary to overcome limitations in handling the illegal production, sale, transportation, storage, and use of weapons with similar functions, and to enhance the responsibility of local Party committees, authorities, departments, and organizations in directing the implementation of this task.