Dismantling a network involved in the buying, selling, and transporting of endangered and rare animals.
On April 18th, the Dien Chau Commune Police announced that they had coordinated with the Economic Police Department of the Provincial Police and Road Traffic Police Team No. 4 (Traffic Police Department) to detect and arrest two individuals for "Violating regulations on the protection of endangered and rare animals," with a large quantity of confiscated items.
Earlier, around the beginning of February 2026, through monitoring the local area and social media groups and accounts, the Road Traffic Police Team No. 4 (Traffic Police Department) coordinated with the Dien Chau Commune Police to discover that several individuals in various localities were thoroughly exploiting the development of high technology to carry out the buying, selling, and transportation of endangered and rare animals in a complex, sophisticated, and difficult-to-detect manner.
Individuals frequently use popular social media platforms such as Facebook, Zalo, and Telegram to exchange and sell endangered or rare animals or animal products listed in the Red Book as needing protection.
Recognizing the complexity of the case, Road Traffic Police Team No. 4 reported to the leadership of Department 6 - Traffic Police Bureau, coordinating with the Dien Chau Commune Police and the Economic Police Department of Nghe An Province to establish two task forces to simultaneously implement professional measures to verify and clarify the methods and tactics of the criminal activities of the suspects; thereby identifying Nguyen Van Chuong (born in 1992, residing in Yen Lac, Le Ho Ward, Ninh Binh Province) as the ringleader of the aforementioned criminal network.
Based on the information gathered, the task force determined that on March 21st, Nguyen Van Chuong was driving a passenger car with license plate 29E-355.85 into Dong Nai province to collect a large quantity of endangered and rare wild animals, which he would then transport to the northern border area for sale. They reported this to their superiors to implement measures to monitor the suspect's movements and develop a plan for his arrest.
Accordingly, at 7:00 AM on March 22nd, at the CT01 Expressway interchange, toll station km 430+500 of the Dien Chau - Bai Vot Expressway in Minh Chau commune, Nghe An province, Road Traffic Police Team No. 4 (Traffic Police Department) coordinated with Dien Chau commune police and the Economic Police Department to arrest Nguyen Van Chuong and driver Bui Khac Tho (born in 1980, residing in Ho Thuong village, Tan Dan ward, Thanh Hoa province) while they were driving a red Thaco passenger bus, license plate 29E-355.85.
During the inspection, authorities seized 40 plastic cages containing 14 hornbills, 16 otters (Group IB), and 181 monkeys (Group IIB).
After completing the necessary procedures, on April 2nd, the Investigation Police Department of Nghe An province issued a decision to initiate a criminal case and prosecute Nguyen Van Chuong for the crime of "Violating regulations on the protection of endangered and rare animals" under Article 244 of the Penal Code.
