Arrest of gun-wielding subject who bought and sold nearly 27kg of drugs

On July 14, 2021, Vinh City Police said: The unit has just coordinated with Thanh Thuy Border Guard Station, Thanh Chuong District Police, Team 3 of the Traffic Police Department, Nghe An Provincial Police to discover a drug trafficking case, arrest Pham Xuan Tai (born in 1979), residing in Hai Duong province, seize 26.8 kg of various drugs, 01 CZ83 military gun and 07 bullets, including 01 loaded bullet, 01 car.

Previously, through basic investigation and subject management, Vinh City Police discovered a network of activities.drug traffickingA huge quantity from Laos was brought to Vinh city for consumption and at the same time transported to the northern provinces and cities. The leader of the ring was a northerner.

Seized evidence. Photo: Duc Vu

Determining the goal of both fighting and arresting complex drug hotspots and cutting off the "supply" of drugs into the city, in order to stabilize the situation and clean up the area, in mid-June 2021, the leaders of Vinh City Police decided to establish a special project. Under the direction of the provincial police, Vinh City Police urgently deployed forces, focused on verification in many areas, and used synchronous professional measures to combat and dismantle this criminal ring.

Experienced detectives were assigned to verify and build up the subjects operating in the ring. After nearly 2 weeks of following the area, the portrait of the ringleader was clarified as Pham Xuan Tai (born in 1979), residing in Bi Do village, Co Bi commune, Binh Giang district, Hai Duong province. Tai is a long-time drug addict, having relationships with many drug dealers in Vinh city. After establishing a close relationship, Tai connected with Lao people to buy drugs and then "distributed" them to retail outlets in Vinh city and transferred them to the northern provinces and cities.

Tai was determined to be very sophisticated and cunning in his activities and often carried firearms to be ready to fight back if discovered. Although he was from Hai Duong, Tai rented a house with his "mistress" at the Rubby apartment building in Phuc Loi ward, Long Bien district, Hanoi city to facilitate drug transactions.

He often went to Dien Chau district and Vinh city, renting hotels in the area to stay and grasp the situation. Each time, Tai disguised himself as a fruit delivery man to deceive the authorities in Vinh city. In particular, he did not trust anyone, so he always proactively surveyed the area many times, familiarizing himself with the checkpoints and patrol rules of the authorities.

The verification process revealed that Tai not only traded drugs but also gambled and bet on football. During the recent Euro season, Tai lost a large amount of money and was therefore in dire straits.

On July 10, 2021, Tai will travel to the Vietnam - Laos border area in Thanh Chuong district to buy drugs, then bring them to Vinh city for consumption or transfer them to "distribute" in Hanoi. Tai's modus operandi is very sophisticated, often communicating to buy and sell drugs via social networks and traveling by his "lover's" car to Vinh city and then renting another car to disguise it. Determining that the subject will carry out a large transaction, the forces decided to crack the case.

In the early morning of July 12, 2021, Tai traveled from Hanoi to Vinh city and rented a hotel to stay, then moved to Cau Ro area in Thanh Chuong district to survey the area and find the way before returning to Vinh city. At about 9:00 p.m. on July 12, Tai started moving to Thanh Chuong district along National Highway 46.

Authorities take samples to test the seized drugs. Photo: Duc Vu

During the journey, Tai zigzagged, turned around, and lost his tail many times. When he reached the Vietnam-Laos border area in Thanh Thuy commune, Thanh Chuong district, he suddenly stopped the car. In just a short time of about 3 minutes, the subject turned the car around and drove away at a very high speed.

The plan to crack the case was carefully developed by the task force, blocking at 3 points on 3 routes of the subject's movement. Therefore, at about 22:10 on the same day when the subject suddenly changed direction along the trail to Hanoi carrying a large amount of drugs, Vinh City Police, in coordination with Thanh Thuy Border Guard Station, Traffic Police Team No. 3, Traffic Police Department of the Provincial Police, Thanh Chuong District Police successfully broke the case, arrested Pham Xuan Tai in the Ho Chi Minh trail area in Thanh Thinh commune, seized 18kg of crystal meth, 03kg of ketamine, 50,000 MTTH pills and 01 CZ83 gun in the magazine with 07 bullets, of which 01 bullet was loaded, 01 car and 02 mobile phones.

During the arrest, Tai barricaded himself in the car, holding a loaded CZ83 military gun in his hand, ready to fight back against the arresting force. However, thanks to proactive and tight tactical arrangements, the working groups quickly approached, broke the windshield, controlled him in time, disarmed him, arrested him, seized evidence, and ensured the safety of the participating forces and the people.