Dismantling a transnational arms trafficking ring, seizing more than 500 guns
Ha Tinh Provincial Police have coordinated with relevant units to destroy a transnational military weapons trafficking ring, prosecuted 43 defendants, and seized 532 guns and more than 36,000 bullets.
On the afternoon of November 7, the Criminal Police Department of Ha Tinh Province Police announced that it had coordinated with relevant units to successfully destroy a ring of illegal trading of military weapons, prosecuting 43 defendants for the crimes of manufacturing, storing, buying, selling, and illegally using military weapons; and illegally storing narcotics.
The investigation agency seized 532 guns of various types, more than 36,000 bullets and more than 211 grams of drugs.
Among the defendants, there are 6 ringleaders including: Vu Anh Tu (born 1993) and Vu Tien Phat (born 1997, both residing in Ninh Binh province); Mai Van Dong (born 1992, residing in Tay Ninh province); Le Cuong (born 1998, residing in Dong Nai province); Nguyen Thanh Tien (born 1993, residing in Hau Giang province); Tran Quoc Cuong (born 2001, residing in Ho Chi Minh City).
These subjects are linked together to form a closed chain, in which each subject is in charge of its own stage, attracting many other subjects to participate.
According to the investigation agency, in recent years, in the whole country in general and Ha Tinh province in particular, there have been many cases related to the use of military guns and dangerous weapons to resolve conflicts.
During the investigation, the police discovered that a number of subjects in Ha Tinh had purchased military weapons on social networks from a large-scale arms trafficking ring, so they established a special project and expanded the investigation.
Through review, the Criminal Police Department of Ha Tinh Province Police found that the weapons trading ring had a system of "henchmen" in many different localities such as Ha Tinh, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Binh Duong...
Through groups on social networking sites, the subjects bought military guns of unknown origin, guns with features and functions similar to military weapons, and then bought additional components to complete them, most of which were transported from China, Laos, and Cambodia to Vietnam for consumption.
Then, the subjects used virtual accounts on social networking platforms to advertise and illegally buy and sell weapons, explosives, and support tools, along with unofficial phone numbers for buyers to contact.
The police determined that this was a very sophisticated arms trafficking ring, with the participation of many notorious, reckless, and daring criminals who often carried weapons with them. The subjects also had close connections with foreign arms dealers, ready to fight back and flee to Cambodia, Laos, and China.
Ha Tinh Provincial Police have simultaneously deployed 15 working groups in 15 provinces and cities, coordinating with the Ministry of Public Security's professional forces and the police of the following provinces: Ninh Binh, Hanoi, Quang Ninh, Hung Yen, Bac Giang, Thanh Hoa, Nghe An, Da Nang, Ho Chi Minh City... to urgently arrest and summon 45 subjects.
Of these, 11 subjects have criminal records and many subjects have drug trafficking and use behaviors, are notorious criminals...
The subjects in this ring sold more than 1,000 guns across provinces, cities, and even in Laos and Cambodia.
The case is under further investigation.
