On 1/8, Tuan (Director of Dai Nguyen Investment and Development Joint Stock Company), his wife Pham Thi Hong Ngoc, and Nguyen Viet Ha (Project Management Director of Dai Nguyen Company) were arrested by the Ho Chi Minh City Economic Police Department for violating resource exploitation regulations.

This action followed an investigation into a project with a permit for dredging and landfilling that had been transformed into a large-scale illegal stone mining operation at the Da Den reservoir in Ngai Giao commune (formerly Ba Ria - Vung Tau).

Tran Van Tuan at the police station. Photo: Police provided

Tran Van Tuan at the police station. Photo: Police provided

Using a legitimate project as a cover for black stone mining

According to the investigation, the Da Den reservoir dredging project was assigned to Dai Nguyen Investment and Development Joint Stock Company, with Tran Van Tuan as the legal representative and investor. The project was carried out by Dai Long Nguyen company, directed by Tuan's wife, Pham Thi Hong Ngoc.

Da Den reservoir, the site of illegal mining. Video: Police provided

In 2023, upon discovering black stone (a mineral requiring extraction permits and strict regulatory oversight) in the reservoir, Tuan and his wife began supplying it to private companies, labeling it as "weathered stone" or "type 1 weathered soil."

The investigation revealed that through this scheme, Tuan and his wife extracted and sold over 365,000 m3 of stone to just three major clients, generating nearly 30 billion dong in profit. They disguised these transactions as "land transfer contracts" to avoid detection.

Nguyen Viet Ha, aware of the illegal nature of the mining, ignored it.

The Da Den reservoir area affected by illegal mining. Photo: Police provided

The Da Den reservoir area affected by illegal mining. Photo: Police provided

Using 'perennial crop land improvement' as a cover for stone mining

Recently, the Ho Chi Minh City Economic Police Department uncovered another case of illegal stone mining in Ba Ria hamlet, Ho Tram commune (formerly Ba Ria - Vung Tau). In March, Vu Duc Son (44) initiated a project to improve perennial crop land in Ba Ria hamlet, Ho Tram commune.

However, instead of simply leveling the land as permitted, Son directed the extraction of tens of thousands of m3 of natural stone for illegal sale. With the help of hired excavators, drills, dump trucks, and workers, he extracted over 26,440 m3 of stone, profiting several billion dong.

During the arrest, police found 2,240 m3 of unextracted stone scattered across the nearly 2,000 m2 agricultural plot, which had been significantly altered. Son was also charged with violating resource exploitation regulations.

Vu Duc Son arrested. Photo: Police provided

Vu Duc Son arrested. Photo: Police provided

According to the Ho Chi Minh City Police Department, these two large-scale illegal mining operations demonstrate the blatant disregard for the law by individuals seeking personal gain. The criminal prosecution of these individuals serves as a warning to those who exploit projects to damage national resources.

Quoc Thang