On 23/5, the Thanh Hoa Provincial Police Investigation Agency initiated criminal proceedings against four defendants: Lam, 33; Nguyen Thi Thoan, 33, both residing in Hac Thanh ward, Thanh Hoa province; Nguyen Thanh Long, 36; and Lai Quy Duong, 31, both residing in Hanoi. They face charges of smuggling under Article 188 of the Penal Code.

Investigators question suspect Nguyen Thanh Long. *Lam Son*

Authorities recently discovered several businesses in Hac Thanh ward selling three-wheeled electric vehicles at unusually low prices, raising suspicions of dealing in smuggled goods. Police concluded that these stores were part of a network transporting electric vehicles from China to Vietnam via unofficial routes. The vehicles were then gathered in Hanoi before being distributed for sale in Thanh Hoa.

On 11/5, economic police, in coordination with Market Management Team 9, simultaneously inspected several related locations. These included an electric vehicle warehouse on Le Hien Tong street, owned by Ly Hong Lam, and the Renbike electric bicycle store on Tay Son street, managed by Nguyen Thi Thoan.

During the inspection, authorities discovered 94 electric vehicles at Lam's warehouse and 30 electric vehicles at Thoan's store. None of the three-wheeled electric vehicles had invoices, documents, or import records as required by regulations.

Police announce the prosecution order for four suspects in the case. *Lam Son*

During questioning by investigators, the defendants admitted that since 3/2026, they had used the WeChat social network to contact suppliers in China and order smuggled electric vehicles for illicit gains. To bring the goods into Vietnam, Lam and Thoan hired Nguyen Thanh Long to organize transportation via unofficial routes, aiming to evade official inspections. The cost was one to 1,3 million dong per cubic meter of goods.

According to the police, Long coordinated the entire smuggled goods transport operation. He created Zalo groups to update the shipment schedule from China to the warehouse in Hanoi, then informed contacts in Thanh Hoa to collect the goods. Expanding the investigation, authorities searched a warehouse managed by Long in Hanoi, seizing additional electric vehicles of unverified origin. The total seized evidence includes over 500 three-wheeled electric vehicles, valued at over 4 billion dong.

The electric vehicles seized by authorities. *Lam Son*

Investigators also determined that Lai Quy Duong was hired by Long to manage the warehouse and monitor goods transportation. Despite knowing the electric vehicles were smuggled, Duong still assisted the defendants in selling the goods.

Nguyen Thanh Long and Lai Quy Duong have been temporarily detained, while the other two individuals are prohibited from leaving their residences to facilitate the investigation. Authorities are currently expanding the investigation to other links within this cross-border smuggling ring.

Le Hoang