Binh, 55, and his accomplices' actions are outlined in an indictment issued by the Supreme People's Procuracy and transferred to the procuracy in Ho Chi Minh City for prosecution. Binh is accused of illegally purchasing and possessing military weapons.

Related to the case, Nguyen Tuan An, 42, from Hung Yen, is prosecuted for illegally trading, possessing, and transporting military weapons. Chu Van Hoang Anh, 35, and Huynh Hoang Vu, 53, also known as Vu "Meo", are prosecuted for illegally possessing military weapons. Lai Nam Phuong is charged with failure to report a crime.

Binh "Kiem" at the time of his arrest. Photo: Police provided

Binh "Kiem" at the time of his arrest. Photo: Police provided

The procuracy identified Binh "Kiem" as the mastermind. Between April and October 2024, he colluded with Tuan An, Hoang Vu, Hoang Anh, and two other associates in three incidents of illegal purchase, transportation, and possession of military weapons.

Having met while incarcerated at Chi Hoa Prison, Binh and Phuong met for coffee in early July 2024 after their release. Phuong invited Vu "Meo" to join them. Binh mentioned he was looking for Western European firearms. Vu "Meo" offered him a Beretta pistol and 13 rounds of ammunition.

The next day, Binh invited Phuong and Vu to a goat hotpot restaurant owned by Chu Van Hoang Anh. Vu gave Binh a cloth bag containing the Beretta and ammunition, saying, "This is a gift for you." Binh inspected the gun, tested the action, and asked Hoang Anh to hide it.

About a month later, after the restaurant closed due to financial losses, Hoang Anh contacted Binh to return the gun and ammunition. Binh asked him to continue storing them. Hoang Anh buried the weapons in his father's garden in Lam Dong. On 30/10/2024, investigators discovered and seized the weapons.

Around August 2010, Binh learned through an acquaintance that Nguyen Tuan An had connections in Laos and asked him to purchase two AK-47s and ammunition.

An traveled to Laos and, through various contacts, acquired an AK-47, 4 magazines, 250 pistol rounds, and 242 AK-47 rounds for Binh at a total cost of 227 million VND.

However, on 29/9/2024, Laotian police discovered and seized the weapons and ammunition hidden in An's suitcase as he prepared to return to Vietnam. The Laotian authorities transferred the seized items to the Vietnamese Ministry of Public Security.

Binh also gave Tran Dinh Thien, 34, from Ba Ria - Vung Tau, 20 million VND to purchase another firearm. Thien subsequently asked Le Minh Nghia to make the purchase, but Nghia defrauded him of 21.3 million VND.

Nguyen Tuan An at the time of his arrest with the firearms and ammunition he purchased for Binh "Kiem". Photo: Police provided

Nguyen Tuan An at the time of his arrest with the firearms and ammunition he purchased for Binh "Kiem". Photo: Police provided

Known as a ruthless figure, Binh was immediately placed under surveillance by the Ministry of Public Security's Serious Crimes Department (C02) upon his release from prison in April of the previous year. Police discovered that Binh had quickly assembled a group of former inmates and notorious gangsters, forming a criminal organization.

According to the Ministry of Public Security, Binh masterminded a plan to organize an event featuring famous models and singers. The group intended to kidnap attendees, use weapons to threaten and sexually assault them, and record videos. These videos would then be sent to an accomplice in the US for distribution on pornographic websites to generate profit.

After formulating the plan, Binh assigned tasks to his associates, including seeking investors. The group also scheduled the time and location for the operation. In preparation, Binh "Kiem" contacted multiple sources to acquire firearms and ammunition, including ordering AK-47s and ammunition from Nguyen Tuan An, a gangster with an extensive criminal record, to be smuggled from Laos into Vietnam.

In late September and early October, police launched a series of arrests, apprehending Binh "Kiem's" gang in Ho Chi Minh City and other locations, thwarting their plot. Police confiscated three AK-47s, eight handguns, over 1,400 rounds of ammunition, five magazines, five bulletproof vests, narcotics, and various other items and documents related to their criminal activities.

Charges related to the manufacturing and possession of military weapons by other suspects have been separated into a different case for later processing.

In this case, 10 other defendants are prosecuted for gambling, organizing gambling, and fraud.

With a history of multiple incarcerations, Binh "Kiem" readily clashed with other gangs and even challenged the notorious crime boss Truong Van Cam (Nam Cam).

In 2005, Binh "Kiem" participated in the kidnapping of tycoon Tram Be's son and demanded a 10 million USD ransom. Two years later, he was sentenced to 28 years in prison by the Ho Chi Minh City People's Court for kidnapping for extortion and illegal purchase, possession, and use of military weapons.

Hai Duyen